Definition

• According to 18 USC Chapter 83/1705, destruction is defined as tearing down, injuring, defacing or destroying a mailbox or receptacle intended for delivery or receipt of the mail.
  
  

Intent

• Destruction of letter boxes or mail must be done willfully or maliciously.
  
  

Penalties

• Persons found guilty will be fined, or imprisoned for not more than three years, or both. In 1994 this section was amended: As previously laid out that the fine would be no more than $1,000, but it is now open-ended.
  
  

Considerations

• Should you destroy a mailbox, and the mail contained in it is destroyed, you can be charged under 18 USC Chapter 83/1702. This section covers theft of mail as well as destruction of mail.
  
  

Significance

• If charged under Section 1702, you can be imprisoned for up to five years and/or fined. In 1994, fines up to $2000 was changed to leave the amount of the fine open-ended.