Posting #139 – A Follow-up on Posting #92, Dear Virginia State Police, what is the process for the re-registration letters?

By:  RSOL of Virginia
Date:  09/24/09

All,

Last week we took the 2 copies of the below letter to our U.S. Post Office. So that when a Virginia State Police Re-registration letter is delivered for my husband to our home or needs to be picked up at the post office I can sign for it.

At first when we attempted to give the letter to the manager she said that registered or certified letters could be signed by anyone and our letter was not needed.

I explained to her that the letters coming from the VSP can not be signed by me. She then said those must be "restricted" letters and no one but the recipient can sign for them.

I advised her of Michelle Brooks USPS Consumer Affairs response to me that if we brought a letter to our local post office giving me the authority to sign for the VSP letters then I could. I suggested she give Michelle Brooks a call while we waited, so she did.

She returned (obviously knowing what the VSP letters are) happy to check our drivers licenses and have us sign our letter.

So, when my husbands re-registration letter does come next time he will not be signing for it even if he's home I will, to see if my signature is accepted.

Our letter is below and I suggest you all copy and print it to use. Just add "restricted" letter to it.

Take two copies to the post office and take the person you are giving permission to sign for the letters with you.

Do not sign the letters until the postal worker has checked you identification and witnesses both signatures.

Let us know if you have success with your next re-registration letter or if your USPS location refuses to allow it.

Thanks.
RSOL of Virginia Organizer

September 17, 2009

United States Post Master Mechanicsville VA 23_____,

I, ______________ authorize my wife __________________ to sign for all registered, certified and restricted letters that are addressed to me at our residence of __________________. This would also include any registered or certified letter sent to me from the Virginia State Police.
In a letter dated June 22, 2009 from Michelle Brooks USPS Consumer Affairs at 1801 Brook Rd. Richmond, VA 23232 she advised the RSOL of Virginia, “When a certified article cannot be delivered on the first attempt, our carrier leaves a notice in the mailbox for the addressee. The article is then held for the addressee at the Post Office. If the article is not called for within 5 days, a second notice is issued. If the article is not called for or its redelivery request is returned at the expiration of the period stated by the sender, or 15 working days after the first notice if no period is stated by the sender. An addressee has the right to designate someone else to receive the mail. If the Postal Service receives an authorization in writing from the addressee, we can deliver his or her restricted delivery mail to the designated person”.
We are hand delivering this copy of my authorization to our Post Office location to keep on file and we will maintain a copy for ourselves.
Sincerely,
Mr.__________
Mrs._________

Update:

10/19/09

Virginia Supporters,

When the postman brought my husbands VSP letter I was not home.

I went to our USPS office the next day with a copy of our letter in my purse. I handed the card of a restricted letter being delivered to our home to the clerk behind the counter.

He went in the back and found the manager/postmaster who took our letter a month ago and she checked my driver’s license and instructed the clerk to allow me to sign for my husband’s VSP letter. The clerk was not happy about being the one who was on record for allowing me to sign for his letter, but he did it.

Let us know your experience.

1st Response to Posting #139
From:  Sheila
Date: 10/21/09

RSOL of Virginia,

I just wanted to let you know that my mom and I did go to our Post Office today and was able to have that letter signed and given to them authorizing my mom to sign for my documents. 
We didn't have any trouble the Postmaster wasn't there so I asked for a supervisor on duty we were there about 2:00PM this afternoon.

Sheila

2nd Response to Posting #139
From:  Jamie
Date: 10/24/09

 Dear USPS Consumer Affairs,

My wife and I completed an authorization for her to sign for all registered and certified letters that are addressed to me at our residence______________, Richmond, VA. We provided that signed document to USPS at _____________ Richmond, VA.

Since that time, a Certified Mail, Restricted Delivery document was delivered with a note affixed, as per the Supervisor, it must be signed for by me. The USPS Web site states in part, Restricted Delivery ensures that your mail is only delivered to the person you specify, or to the person authorized in writing to sign for intended recipient.

If there are additional requirements for delivery of Certified Mail, Restricted Delivery pieces of which I am not aware, please let me know.

Otherwise, please instruct staff in local facilities to deliver mail according to posted   USPS guidelines and in accordance with written instructions provided by customers. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Jamie

Update from Jamie
From:  Jamie
Date: 10/28/09

                                Dear RSOL of Virginia,

                                Just another case of local USPS staff trying to be police instead of understanding their own rules. 

                                 Ms. Brooks called my delivery post office and had to explain the rules to the supervisor.

                                http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/503.htm#wp1063785

                                Jamie

3rd Response to Posting #139
From:  Gordon
Date: 10/26/09

RSOL of Virginia,

I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem.

In the two years at my address the postal carrier has delivered my letter from the State Police at least 5 times and in those times the carrier drove up, blew the horn once and then drove off. I just happened to catch them this time.

I talked to the State Trooper that comes to the house to verify that I still live here, and told him about it. He told me a story about a carrier that purposely did not deliver the letter to someone and the offender was charged for not being in compliance. I was told by the trooper, by law the carrier has do deliver the letter, but it is the offenders responsibility to keep track of the day to reregister.
My question is! How can that be fair?

Gordon

Reply to Gordon
From:  RSOL of Virginia
Date: 10/26/09

 

 Yes, originally we had issues with delivery of the letter. In Posting #92 we are example #1 http://www.rsolvirginia.org/blog_92.html

First you need to type up a letter stating the problem and then you need to rake it to your post office location and give it to your postmaster. Second you need to mail the same letter to USPS Consumer Affairs: Michelle Brooks USPS Consumer Affairs at 1801 Brook Rd. Richmond, VA 23232.

To answer your question it is not fair, but it is up to you to stay compliant. We mark the due date on our calendar and keep watch for two weeks before it's time for my   husband to register so we don't forget. Also, if there is anyone else at your address you  who trust to sign for the letter see Posting #139,  http://www.rsolvirginia.org/blog_139.html for instructions to allow that person to sign for you.

If your letter is late and you are questioning it, contact your Trooper and it's up to them to track your letter. They can tell you if it was mailed out and if the USPS is claiming they have attempted delivery or not or if it's been returned to the VSP.

This is an issue we have been working on, thank you for letting us know your situation.

Keep us posted on the response from your Postmaster and from USPS Consumer Affairs.

RSOL of Virginia