Registry system

§ 5001. Registry system (a) The Postmaster General may maintain a system of registration for the greater security of mail matter. As part of the registry system he may indemnify the senders or owners of registered articles for their loss, rifling, or damage, in the mails. (b) The maximum limit of indemnity payable for a registered article is $1,000, or the actual value when that is less than $1,000, and for which no other compensation or reimbursement has been made. However, the Postmaster General may provide for the payment of indemnity for the actual value of a registered article, or an insured article treated as a registered article, in excess of $1,000, but not in excess of $10,000 when the article is not insured with another insuring agency. (c) The Postmaster General may cause liability or risk assumed by the Department, in connection with the mailing of a particular registered article, to be underwritten or reinsured in whole or in part, with a commercial insurance company. (d) An additional fee, known as a surcharge, may be required for a registered article, or for an insured article treated as a registered article, that has a declared value in excess of the maximum indemnity covered by the registry or insurance fee. (e) The official mail of the Department, which requires registration, may be registered without payment of registry fee.