Bill Text: MI SB0023 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Crimes; larceny; mail and mail depository protection act; create. Creates new act.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2019-09-19 - Assigned Pa 0048'19 With Immediate Effect [SB0023 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-SB0023-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 23
January 15, 2019, Introduced by Senators RUNESTAD, LUCIDO, ANANICH, BARRETT and MACDONALD and referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
A bill to prohibit the theft of mail; to provide for the
powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers
and entities; and to prescribe penalties and provide remedies.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "mail
and mail depository protection act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Mail" means a letter, postal card, package, bag, or any
other article or thing contained therein, or other sealed article
addressed to a person.
(b) "Mail carrier" means a person who is employed to deliver
and collect mail.
(c) "Mail depository" means a mailbox, letter box, or mail
receptacle, a post office or a station of a post office, a postal
service vehicle, or any authorized depository for mail.
(d) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation,
limited liability company, association, or other legal entity.
Sec. 3. (1) A person shall not do any of the following with
respect to mail that is addressed to another person:
(a) Knowingly and intentionally remove mail from a mail
depository.
(b) Knowingly and intentionally take mail from a mail carrier.
(c) Obtain custody of mail by intentionally deceiving a mail
carrier, or other person who rightfully possesses or controls the
mail, by making a written, verbal, or electronic representation
that the person knows to be false with intent to deceive and
actually deceive a mail carrier or other person who possesses or
controls the mail.
(d) Knowingly and intentionally remove the contents of mail.
(e) Knowingly and intentionally take mail that has been left
for delivery at the location specified on the mail.
(f) Knowingly and intentionally take mail that has been left
for collection on or adjacent to a mail depository.
(g) Knowingly and intentionally destroy or damage mail.
(h) Receive, possess, transfer, or conceal mail, knowing or
having reason to believe the mail was obtained in violation of this
section or in a manner that is otherwise prohibited by the law of
this state or of the United States.
(2) Except for a person that is charged with a violation of
subsection (1)(c), a person may assert 1 or more of the following
as an affirmative defense to an alleged violation of subsection
(1):
(a) That the person acted with the consent of the person to
whom the mail was addressed, unless that person gave consent
knowing that the information would be used to commit an unlawful
act.
(b) That the action taken was authorized or required by state
or federal law, rule, or regulation, or a court order or rule.
(c) That the person is the legal guardian of a child or an
adult and is authorized to possess the mail of that child or adult
and to make decisions regarding access to that mail.
(3) A person asserting an affirmative defense under subsection
(2) has the burden of establishing the affirmative defense by a
preponderance of the evidence.
(4) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony
punishable as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b) and (c),
by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more
than $25,000.00, or both.
(b) If the violation is a second violation of this section, by
imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than
$50,000.00, or both.
(c) If the violation is a third or subsequent violation of
this section, by imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine
of not more than $75,000.00, or both.
(5) This section applies whether a person whose mail is
obtained, or attempted to be obtained, if the person is an
individual, in violation of this section is alive or deceased at
the time of the violation.
(6) This section does not prohibit a person from being charged
with, convicted of, or sentenced for any other violation of law
committed by that person using mail obtained in violation of this
section or any other violation of law committed by that person
while violating or attempting to violate this section.
(7) The court may order that a term of imprisonment imposed
under this section be served consecutively to any term of
imprisonment imposed for a conviction of any other violation of law
committed by that person using mail obtained in violation of this
section or any other violation of law committed by that person
while violating or attempting to violate this section.
(8) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this
section that the person lawfully transferred, obtained, or
attempted to obtain mail for the purpose of detecting, preventing,
or deterring mail theft or another crime. The defendant has the
burden of establishing the affirmative defense by a preponderance
of the evidence.
Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the
date it is enacted into law.
