{"data":{"id":"us/39-u.s.c.-5603","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"39 U.S.C. § 5603","heading":"Transportation of mail by vessel as freight or express","body":"The Postal Service may require that mail be transported by freight or express when—(1) there is no competition on a water route and the rate or compensation asked is excessive; or (2) no proposal is received. A common carrier by water that fails or refuses to transport the mail when required to do so under this section shall be fined not more than $500 for each day of refusal.","path":["Title 39—POSTAL SERVICE","CHAPTER 56—TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY VESSEL"],"source_url":"https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/103/xml_usc39@119-103.zip","current_through":"Public Law 119-103 (09/02/2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-10T05:59:46Z","sha256":"82920decaf631fa8343590222dcfd142b244c1f98e599318a5e608afdfbc5a72","source_id":"us","stale":true,"prev":"us/39-u.s.c.-5602","next":"us/39-u.s.c.-5604"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}