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I'm posting this in religion since the situation has religious overtones and could as easily involve the name of a church as not.

 

First, I know the U.S. Post Office is a hybrid organization, part public, part private, but it does utilize our tax dollars.

 

Second, I know rural mail carriers use their own vehicles and are entitled to post bumper stickers, etc., for anything they wish--I totally support that.

 

What I'm speaking of us a vehicle I just saw on Hwy. 72. The SUV sported a magnetic sign, large, and in official-looking red and white lettering: U. S. Mail. in the SAME sign was a logo for an organization. I would think even if the mail carrier paid for this sign with no total or even partial reimbursement, this is illegal.

 

Opinions, please...

Kate loves a mystery...

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Originally Posted by Kate Colombo:

I'm posting this in religion since the situation has religious overtones and could as easily involve the name of a church as not.

 

First, I know the U.S. Post Office is a hybrid organization, part public, part private, but it does utilize our tax dollars.

 I'm pretty sure you are wrong on this point. Don't think the Post Office receives any tax dollars, but I'm also pretty sure the PO sends their dollars to the Fed gov.

Second, I know rural mail carriers use their own vehicles and are entitled to post bumper stickers, etc., for anything they wish--I totally support that.

 

What I'm speaking of us a vehicle I just saw on Hwy. 72. The SUV sported a magnetic sign, large, and in official-looking red and white lettering: U. S. Mail. in the SAME sign was a logo for an organization. I would think even if the mail carrier paid for this sign with no total or even partial reimbursement, this is illegal.

 

Opinions, please...

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Just off the top of my head, I would guess that the carrier is paid per diem mileage for his car, and could probably put whatever he wanted to put on it. I think the "US Mail" sign is more for safety than anything else so whoever sees the car will expect a lot of stops and can modify their driving so as to expect the stop and start driving of a PO carrier.

According to the laws under which it now operates, the U.S. Postal Service is a semi-independent federal agency, mandated to be revenue-neutral. That is, it is supposed to break even, not make a profit.

In 1982, U.S. postage stamps became "postal products," rather than a form of taxation. Since then, The bulk of the cost of operating the postal system has been paid for by customers through the sale of "postal products" and services rather than taxes.

Each class of mail is also expected to cover its share of the costs, a requirement that causes the percentage rate adjustments to vary in different classes of mail, according the costs associated with the processing and delivery characteristics of each class.

According to the costs of operations, U.S. Postal Service rates are set by the Postal Regulatory Commission according to the recommendations of the Postal Board of Governors.

Look, the USPS is an Agency!
The USPS is created as a government agency under Title 39, Section 101.1 of the United States Code which states, in part:

 

(a) The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people.

 

Under paragraph (d) of Title 39, Section 101.1, "Postal rates shall be established to apportion the costs of all postal operations to all users of the mail on a fair and equitable basis."

No, the USPS is a Business!
the Postal Service takes on some several very non-governmental attributes via the powers granted to it under Title 39, Section 401, which include:

 

  • power to sue (and be sued) under its own name;

 

 

  • power to adopt, amend and repeal its own regulations;

 

 

  • power to "enter into and perform contracts, execute instruments, and determine the character of, and necessity for, its expenditures";

 

 

  • power to buy, sell and lease private property; and,

 

 

  • power to build, operate, lease and maintain buildings and facilities.

 

All of which are typical functions and powers of a private business. However, unlike other private businesses, the Postal Service is exempt from paying federal taxes. USPS can borrow money at discounted rates, and can condemn and acquire private property under governmental rights of eminent domain.

The USPS does get some taxpayer support. Around $96 million is budgeted annually by Congress for the "Postal Service Fund." These funds are used to compensate USPS for postage-free mailing for all legally blind persons and for mail-in election ballots sent from US citizens living overseas. A portion of the funds also pays USPS for providing address information to state and local child support enforcement agencies.

Under federal law, only the Postal Service can handle or charge postage for handling letters. Despite this virtual monopoly worth some $45 billion a year, the law does not require that the Postal Service make a profit -- only break even. Still, the US Postal Service has averaged a profit of over $1 billion per year in each of the last five years. Yet, Postal Service officials argue that they must continue to raise postage at regular intervals in order make up for the increased use of email.

Originally Posted by Jankinonya:

My rural route mail carrier has one of those fish signs on her car. I assume that it means she is a Christian. Doesn't mean anything else to me. Should it?

 

Jank, as I said in my original post, we're not talking about a bumper sticker or fish logo or whatever that's on the SUV by itself. We're talking about a logo on the same magnetic sign that says U. S. Mail. I personally couldn't care less if the mail carrier has a bumper sticker that says "I'm a Satanist" or "Buy your ANFO ingredients here." The problem is with the two being on the SAME sign.

I would put in the opinion that it might be best if a sign for an official position of the United States Government not have a second message, and that message, as you have correctly stated could be anything from Buy Amway, to the Logo for a religion or a specific church.  It is not the Post Office's business to promote causes or religions. 

 

That being said, I think it is great for the individual to belong to a religion, or sell Amway, or whatever, and should be allowed to display pretty much whatever symbol he or she wants APART and AWAY from the "official" symbol of a Government orginization.

 

Does that seem fair?

Originally Posted by alwilliams767:

I would put in the opinion that it might be best if a sign for an official position of the United States Government not have a second message, and that message, as you have correctly stated could be anything from Buy Amway, to the Logo for a religion or a specific church.  It is not the Post Office's business to promote causes or religions. 

 

That being said, I think it is great for the individual to belong to a religion, or sell Amway, or whatever, and should be allowed to display pretty much whatever symbol he or she wants APART and AWAY from the "official" symbol of a Government orginization.

 

Does that seem fair?

Best advice thus far on this string, alwilliams! Makes sense all around.

The postal does not receive any taxpayers money to run the post office. They are entitled to money from congress to pay for mail for the blind, election ballots and information and maybe one or two other jobs. The 96 million is way to high a number, I would guess congress is trying to give the impression that they are giving money to the USPS, maybe 5 to 10 million a year is closer to being correct and they are behind on paying that amount by millions.  Congress has borrowed all the money set aside by the empoyees & the USPS share that is for postal service employees retirement and have left iou's like they did for social securtiy. Congress borrowed the USPS retirement accounts to fund the gov't during the last debt ceiling battle and has yet to repay it. As far as signs go, no campaign signs, religious signs, no advertising signs are allowed on rural carrier vehicles. Maybe a smiley face. A magnetic sign could have in small print who the seller is or maker of the sign is, but only in real small print that could not be read standing away from the vehicle. I would think a real small logo would pass if it was part of the seller name. Union logo's on a sign are a no, no. As rural carriers wear no uniforms, they can only wear clothing that is in good taste with no union signs or logo's, advertising, religious wording or polictal signs or decals. Actually all signs indicating a vehicle is used to carry mail are to be removed before leaving the post office parking lot and put on again the next day when the carrier leaves the parking lot to begin their delivery route. Rural carriers vehicles are to be inspected once each month by a supervisor to ensure that the vehicle is safe to delivery mail from, such as all mirrors, lites, turn signals, horn, windows, brakes, tires are in working order to safely deliver the mail and that the carrier has a current drivers license and current insurance. This is when unauthorized decals and signs would be detected and removed. I have seen a few carriers that had to scrap decals and signs from their vehicle. Now having said all that, I doubt seriously if it is enforced at all post offices or even if half of them even know the regulations.

Originally Posted by renecillo7:

Kate: I do acknowledge that sometimes the smallest of details can turn out to be the most important.

If my previous reply seemed a bit disrespectful or short I certainly apologize. I did have my coffee this morning, but I find as I get older it is taking longer to kick in!

_______

I didn't take it that you were being mean towards Kate. Maybe she overlooked that part of your comment? 

 

I think as we get older it's not just the coffee that takes longer to kick in.  

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