Bill Text: HI HB2479 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Mail Theft.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-28 - Referred to JHA, referral sheet 3 [HB2479 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HB2479-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2479 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to mail theft.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the way that many individuals and families rely on mail and parcel delivery services. The pandemic has led to a major increase in online orders that are subsequently fulfilled by shipping items through the United States Postal Service or another parcel delivery service. Many packages sent through the mail are left at the addressee's doorstep if there is no onsite mail receptacle large enough to accommodate the package.
The legislature further finds that reports of mail theft are on the rise. When mail carriers or delivery persons have no choice but to leave packages by doors or deposit them in unsecured mail receptacles, the packages become susceptible to theft. Mail theft leads to frustration for both the sender and intended recipient, especially because stolen mail is typically never recovered.
The legislature believes that treating mail theft as a separate theft offense would be appropriate to emphasize the importance of mail delivery and promote greater respect for the property rights of others.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish the class C felony offense of mail theft.
SECTION 2. Chapter 708, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§708- Theft of mail. (1)
A person commits the offense of theft of
mail if the person intentionally removes, without the consent of the addressee,
mail from the mailbox of another or from premises occupied by another, with the
intent to deprive the addressee of the mail.
(2)
For the purposes of this section:
"Mail"
means an envelope, package, bag, box, or other sealed article that:
(a) Was delivered to
the addressee's address by a common carrier or delivery service but not yet retrieved
by the addressee; or
(b) Has been left to
be collected by a common carrier or delivery service for subsequent delivery.
(3) Theft of mail is a class C felony."
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Penal Code; Property Rights; Theft of Mail
Description:
Establishes the class C felony offense of theft of mail.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
