[saxa]

In a few threads lately there has been reference to opening other people's mail and the charges involved for doing so.

Do you know of anyone ever prosecuted for it??

[Frau Farbissina]

No

[katpaws]

No, but then i don't know anyone who has been charged for murder either.

People who deliver the mail can be charged with mail tampering - link. It is part of the Criminal Code Act, so there must be people charged with it, and the punishment can be imprisonment, so it is taken seriously.

According to a lawyer's webpage:

Section 471.7 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) is Tampering with Mail and is extracted below.

471.7 Tampering with mail-receptacles

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if the person dishonestly:

(a) opens a mail-receptacle; or
(b) tampers with a mail-receptacle.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.

(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person intentionally opens a mail-receptacle; and
(b) the person is not authorised by Australia Post to open the mail-receptacle; and
© the person does so knowing that he or she is not authorised by Australia Post to open the mail-receptacle.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

This post has been edited by katpaws: 13/11/2012, 05:11 AM

[knottygirl]

No, but then i don't know anyone who has been charged for murder either.

yes, but how many people do you know that have killed someone and got away with it?

I think the OP was refering to it being a common crime that is rarely (if ever) prosecuted. Murder is not a common crime and is always prosecuted. Not really the same thing!

[FiveAus]

No.


I do know someone who was charged with murder, however.

[katpaws]

but how many people do you know that have killed someone and got away with it?

That i don't know - it is generally not something that comes up in conversation. But i do know someone who thought they killed someone - does that count?

Tampering with mail is considered an offence, regardless if people think that is ridiculous or not. If the OP wants a conversation about the differences of opinion and punishment for mail tampering and other offences, then why not just come and ask that?

[LookMumNoHands]

Yes. It was a friends older brother about 20 years ago. I have no idea what punishment he got, but I know that her parents had to take him to court.

[knottygirl]

That i don't know - it is generally not something that comes up in conversation. But i do know someone who thought they killed someone - does that count?

Tampering with mail is considered an offence, regardless if people think that is ridiculous or not. If the OP wants a conversation about the differences of opinion and punishment for mail tampering and other offences, then why not just come and ask that?

i think the op wants to know if its a crime in name only or if people are actually prosecuted for it.

[MrsLexiK]

I don't know anyone who has been charged with anything order then drink driving. I also haven't opened up other people's mail.

[katpaws]

...if people are actually prosecuted for it.

Well they are... even if not many people on EB know of people who have been charged with it.