US /

USPS: We Don't Pay Traffic Tickets

East Cleveland's mayor gets a surprise
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 3, 2013 4:24 PM CST
USPS: We Don't Pay Traffic Tickets
A US postal service truck drives through the North Beach area of San Francisco, Wednesday, May 11, 2011.    (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Did you know the USPS doesn't legally have to obey traffic laws? East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton was surprised to find out. His city had sent the USPS a notice after traffic cameras caught postal service vehicles breaking the law seven times, Cleveland.com reports. But instead of a check, the city received a letter from a USPS lawyer saying sorry, the US Constitution exempts us from such matters.

"The Postal Service attempts to work within local and state laws and regulations, when feasible," wrote Jennifer Breslin. "However, as you are probably aware, the Postal Service enjoys federal immunity from state and local regulation." Mail carriers themselves must obey the law, apparently, but the USPS didn't cough up any names. "I was unaware that the Post Office doesn’t have to stop at red lights or obey the speed limit," said Norton. "But since they are, I wish I’d get my mail faster." (Of course, the USPS is already bleeding money.)

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