1     
MAIL THEFT AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Walt Brooks

5     
Senate Sponsor: Don L. Ipson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions related to mail theft.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms; and
13          ▸     modifies the crime of mail theft.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          None
16     Other Special Clauses:
17          None
18     Utah Code Sections Affected:
19     AMENDS:
20          76-6-1001, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1998, Chapter 87
21          76-6-1003, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 340
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 76-6-1001 is amended to read:
25          76-6-1001. Definitions.
26          As used in this part:
27          (1) "Common mail carrier" means a person engaged in or transacting the business of
28     collecting, transporting, or delivering mail, other than the United States Postal Service.
29          [(1)] (2) "Key" means any instrument used by the postal service and postal customer,
30     and which is designed to operate the lock on a mail receptacle.
31          [(2)] (3) "Mail" means any letter, card, parcel, or other material, along with its
32     contents, that:
33          (a) has postage affixed by the postal customer or postal service;
34          (b) has been accepted for delivery by the postal service;
35          (c) the postal customer leaves for collection by the postal service; or
36          (d) the postal service delivers to the postal customer.
37          [(3)] (4) "Mail receptacle" means a mail box, post office box, rural box, or any place or
38     area intended or used by postal customers or [the] a postal service for the collection or delivery
39     of mail.
40          (5) "Personal identifying information" means the same as that term is defined in
41     Section 76-6-1102.
42          [(4)] (6) "Postage" means a postal service stamp, permit imprint, meter strip, or other
43     indication of either prepayment for postal service provided or authorization by the postal
44     service for collection and delivery of mail.
45          [(5)] (7) "Postal service" means the United States Postal Service and any [motor carrier
46     engaged in the business of collecting, transporting, and delivering mail] common mail carrier.
47          Section 2. Section 76-6-1003 is amended to read:
48          76-6-1003. Mail theft -- Penalties.
49          (1) A person commits the crime of mail theft if the person:
50          (a) knowingly, and with the intent to deprive another:
51          (i) takes, destroys, hides, or embezzles mail; or
52          (ii) obtains any mail by fraud or deception; or
53          (b) buys, receives, conceals, or possesses mail and knows or reasonably should have
54     known that the mail was unlawfully taken or obtained.
55          (2) Mail theft is [a]:
56          [(a) felony of the second degree if the value of the mail is or exceeds $5,000;]
57          [(b) felony of the third degree if the value of the mail is or exceeds $1,000, but is less
58     than $5,000 in value; and]
59          [(c) class A misdemeanor if the value of the mail is less than $1,000 in value or the
60     value cannot be ascertained.]
61          (a) a third degree felony;
62          (b) a class A misdemeanor, if the mail has no monetary value and does not include the
63     name of an individual; or
64          (c) a second degree felony, if the mail contains the personal identifying information of
65     10 or more individuals.