---
type: "LegalText"
title: "39 U.S.C. § 603"
description: "Searches authorized"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 39
title_name: "POSTAL SERVICE"
chapter_number: "6"
chapter_name: "PRIVATE CARRIAGE OF LETTERS"
section: "603"
citation: "39 U.S.C. § 603"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc39@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t39/s603"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-39/usc39.xml"
source_hash: "ef909638196915ea7ac536dc2c58faf04974b25dd46a4b566f2fe50d6e3e51a1"
raw_snapshot_hash: "ccea35969be78d053165f1170bf2aa826a68e5b4dea1fe3356d8a09e86e19a65"
text_hash: "995177e28c44bd9d8a11bc94a59e7540454eec0be8c7d677d91141f420fb2029"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 39 U.S.C. § 603 - Searches authorized

## Text

The Postal Service may authorize any officer or employee of the Postal Service to make searches for mail matter transported in violation of law. When the authorized officer has reason to believe that mailable matter transported contrary to law may be found therein, he may open and search any—

(1) vehicle passing, or having lately passed, from a place at which there is a post office of the United States;

(2) article being, or having lately been, in the vehicle; or

(3) store or office, other than a dwelling house, used or occupied by a common carrier or transportation company, in which an article may be contained.

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 727.)

## Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.