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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Prohibitory Order</span></span>
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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For other uses, see <a href="Unlawful_assembly" title="Unlawful assembly">Unlawful assembly</a>.</div>
<p>A <b>Prohibitory Order</b> is a legal instrument issued by the <a href="United_States_Postal_Service" title="United States Postal Service">United States Postal Service</a>, against a mailer, on request of a recipient. Its effect is to criminalize any further attempt by a particular mailer to continue to send advertisement material to a particular recipient through the United States Postal Service.<sup id="cite_ref-Pub_307_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pub_307-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In addition, it demands that the mailer delete immediately the names of the particular recipient from all mailing lists owned or controlled by the mailer or his agents or assigns and, further, prohibits the mailer and his agents or assigns from the sale, rental, exchange, or other transaction involving mailing lists bearing the names of the particular recipient.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is requested by filing United States Postal Service <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://about.usps.com/forms/ps1500.pdf">Form 1500</a>, either with a local Postmaster, or directly with the Prohibitory Order Processing Center.<sup id="cite_ref-Pub_307_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pub_307-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>Historically, the Prohibitory Order was devised as a means of protecting freedom of speech, while recognizing the rights of individual recipients not to receive advertisements they deem to be <a href="Pornography" title="Pornography">pornographic</a> or otherwise offensive, and the absolute and unreviewable right of the recipient of a <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mailpiece" class="extiw external" title="wikt:mailpiece">mailpiece</a> to determine whether or not it is offensive. A prohibitory order against a specific mailer, although the language of the application form implies that explicit sexual content is the only basis for finding a mailpiece offensive, has been extended by case law to allow the recipient to declare any mailpiece obscene, for any reason whatsoever, with no requirement to state the reason(s) for taking offense.<sup id="cite_ref-Rowan_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rowan-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The only absolute requirement is that it must be possible to construe the mailpiece as an offer to sell goods or services. Various rulings have upheld the Supreme Court decision that the postal customer's discretion is not subject to review.<sup id="cite_ref-Ritchie_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ritchie-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>In addition, recipients may use Form 1500 to apply for a general prohibitory order, covering any mailpiece that may be deemed offensive on the basis of explicit sexual content.<sup id="cite_ref-Pub_307_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pub_307-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Process">Process</h2></div>
<ol><li>Mailpiece received
<ul><li>Addressee receives mailpiece.</li>
<li>Mailpiece must be an offer to sell something, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. § 3008(a).<sup id="cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39-USC-3008-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>
<li>Recipient must believe the offer is "erotically arousing or sexually provocative," pursuant to 39 U.S.C. § 3008(a).<sup id="cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39-USC-3008-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Recipient may declare any offer "erotically arousing or sexually provocative" without explanation, pursuant to <i><a href="Rowan_v._United_States_Post_Office_Department" title="Rowan v. United States Post Office Department">Rowan v. United States Post Office Department</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-Rowan_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rowan-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li>
<li>Order application
<ul><li>Recipient prepares a prohibitory order application (Form 1500).</li>
<li>Recipient mails application, mailpiece, and envelope to any Post Office.</li></ul></li>
<li>Order issued
<ul><li>USPS issues prohibitory order (Form 2152) to sender, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. § 3008(b).<sup id="cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39-USC-3008-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Each order is assigned a unique "order number".</li>
<li>USPS notifies requester and includes copy of order.</li></ul></li>
<li>Order violation
<ul><li>Recipient writes "I received this on [date]." and signs below on the mailpiece.</li>
<li>Recipient writes "I received this on [date]." and signs below on the envelope.</li>
<li>Recipient forwards copy of the original order, signed mailpiece, and signed envelope to any Post Office.</li></ul></li>
<li>Complaint served
<ul><li>USPS serves complaint (Form 2153) upon sender, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. § 3008(d).<sup id="cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39-USC-3008-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Each case is assigned a unique "docket number".</li>
<li>USPS notifies requester and includes copy of complaint.</li></ul></li>
<li>Hearing possible
<ul><li>Sender may elect hearing, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. § 3008(d).<sup id="cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39-USC-3008-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>
<li>If elected, a hearing is conducted in accord with 39 C.F.R. § 963.<sup id="cite_ref-39-CFR-963_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39-CFR-963-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li>
<li>Enforcement
<ul><li>USPS asks attorney general to ask a federal district court to enforce the order, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. § 3008(d).</li></ul></li></ol>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
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<li id="cite_note-Pub_307-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Pub_307_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pub_307_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pub_307_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">
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</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://about.usps.com/publications/pub307.pdf">"Publication 307 – Stop Unsolicited Sexually Oriented Advertisements in Your Mail"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. United States Postal Service. March 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2008-06-05</span></span>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/508.htm#wp1069178">"Domestic Mail Manual 508 Recipient Services, §8.1.7"</a>. United States Postal Service<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2008-06-05</span></span>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Rowan-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Rowan_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Rowan_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite><i><a href="Rowan_v._U.S._Post_Office_Dept." class="mw-redirect" title="Rowan v. U.S. Post Office Dept.">Rowan v. U.S. Post Office Dept.</a></i></cite>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0397_0728_ZS.html">397 U.S. 728</a> (1970).</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Ritchie-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Ritchie_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite><i>Ritchie Hallanan Real Estate, Ltd.</i></cite>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/judicial/admin-decisions/2004/03-393id.htm"> No. P 03-393</a> (Postal Service Admin. Decision May 18, 2004).</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-39-USC-3008-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-39-USC-3008_5-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="Title_39_of_the_United_States_Code" title="Title 39 of the United States Code">39 U.S.C.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/39/3008">§ 3008</a></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-39-CFR-963-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39-CFR-963_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><span><a href="Title_39_of_the_Code_of_Federal_Regulations" title="Title 39 of the Code of Federal Regulations">39 CFR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-39/part-963">963</a></span>.</span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>
<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180821042301/http://www.awakeningblog.com/uploads/5/1/9/7/519776/form_1500.pdf">United States Postal Service Form 1500: Application for Listing and/or Prohibitory Order</a> at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 21 August 2018)</li></ul></div><!--htdig_noindex--><div><div class="zim-footer">
This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-04-12" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Prohibitory_Order&oldid=1285207272">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.
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