Bill Analysis
In this bill mail theft is defined as a letter, postal card, package, bag, or other sealed article sent through a common carrier, and addressed to someone other than the sender. This bill would make it a state jail felony to steal mail that is addressed to at least three people, but fewer than 10. If the number of addresses is more than ten but fewer than 50 it would be a third-degree felony, and if it were more than 50 pieces of mail appropriated it would be considered a second-degree felony.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill is an unnecessary expansion of government because federal law already punishes mail theft by up to 5 years in prison and/ or a fine. Our liberty principle of limited government reads, “Our laws should be few, necessary, fair, and just.” This bill violates our commitment to limited government because this creates a new state law punishable as escalating degrees of felonies that are disproportionate to the crime. For these reasons we oppose HB 1747.
