Ups Package Searches: What Legal Boundaries Apply?

UPS is a private company that operates in accordance with local laws and regulations. While the company does not face the same federal protections and restrictions as the USPS, it is still subject to certain laws and regulations regarding the transportation of goods. UPS maintains a list of prohibited and restricted items that it will not ship due to legal or safety concerns. These include hazardous materials, human remains, and illegal substances. UPS reserves the right to refuse or suspend transportation of packages that do not comply with these regulations or lack proper shipping information.

UPS prohibited items

UPS will not ship certain items due to laws or regulations. It is the shipper's responsibility to comply with current government regulations or laws applicable in each country. Shipments may be subject to inspection and delays by customs or government authorities.

UPS prohibits the following items from shipping:

• Bank bills, notes, or currency (other than coins)
• Human remains, fetal remains, human body parts, or human embryos
• Marijuana, including medicinal marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) derived from marijuana
• Vape products within, to, or from the US
• Hazardous waste or hazardous waste services
• Shipments prohibited by law, such as ivory
• Goods that require special facilities, safety precautions, or permits
• Shipments with inherent vice, which by their nature are likely to soil, impair, or damage persons, merchandise, or equipment
• Goods moving under specific conditions, such as ATA Carnet and FCR
• Letters of credit shipments
• Loose precious stones
• Pornographic materials
• Corpses, cremated, or disinterred remains

Some items listed as prohibited by UPS can be accepted on a contractual basis if the shipper complies with applicable regulations. These include:

• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco
• Non-domesticated animal products
• Perishables or live animals
• Dangerous goods and electronic cigarettes
• Gold or other precious metals
• Furs or articles of high and unusual value
• Firearms and weapons, including inert and replica explosives
• Biological substances, Category B, and exempt human or animal specimens

UPS restricted items

UPS has a list of restricted items that can be shipped only under certain conditions. These restrictions are based on the laws and regulations of the origin and destination countries.

The following items are considered restricted by UPS in most countries:

• Tobacco and tobacco products
• Alcoholic beverages (only for pre-approved companies)
• Unset precious stones and industrial diamonds
• Jewellery and watches exceeding USD 500 or local currency equivalent per package
• Non-domesticated animal products (e.g. mother-of-pearl inlay, snakeskin watch bands)
• Articles of high/unusual value
• Biological substances, Category B and exempt human or animal specimens
• Electronic cigarettes
• Firearms and weapons (including inert and replica explosive weapons)
• Gold or other precious metals
• Live animals (e.g. fish, insects, and reptiles)

Some items may be considered restricted in some countries and prohibited in others. For example, food and perishable items can be shipped within the USA, but they are restricted for domestic deliveries in the European Union.

To ship restricted items with UPS, companies need to establish a contract with the courier and provide the necessary documentation.

Tampering with UPS packages

There are laws against stealing, robbing, and other criminal activities that apply to items handled by private companies like UPS. If someone suspects that their UPS package has been tampered with or stolen, they can file a police report with their local law enforcement agency. While budget constraints and a lack of evidence may hinder the investigation, filing a report can help the police identify patterns of crimes in the area.

UPS has strict guidelines and policies in place to protect the security and integrity of the packages it handles. The company prohibits the transportation of certain goods, such as dangerous goods, hazardous materials, human remains, and illegal substances. UPS also has restrictions on shipping specific items, such as alcoholic beverages, firearms, and precious metals. It is the shipper's responsibility to comply with government regulations and ensure that their shipment does not contain any prohibited items.

UPS takes the security of its packages seriously and has measures in place to protect against tampering and theft. The company uses tamper-proof tape, security seals, and tracking technologies to ensure the safety of its packages. Additionally, UPS employees are trained to handle packages with care and are subject to disciplinary action if they are found to be involved in any malicious activities.

If a customer suspects that their UPS package has been tampered with, they should report it to UPS customer service as soon as possible. UPS will investigate the issue and, if necessary, take appropriate action against any employees involved. Customers can also refuse delivery of a package if they believe it has been tampered with and request a replacement from the sender.

Shipping hazardous materials

Understanding Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials, also known as dangerous goods, encompass a wide range of items that pose potential risks. These can include common items such as batteries, electronic devices, camping gear, and even certain medical equipment. It is essential to identify if an item qualifies as hazardous to ensure proper handling and shipping procedures.

UPS Hazardous Materials Service

UPS offers a specialized Hazardous Materials Contract Service for shipping hazardous materials. This service is designed to facilitate compliance with applicable regulations and UPS carrier requirements. To utilize this service, customers must have a UPS.com username, a shipping account, and agree to the Hazardous Materials Agreement Checklist. The checklist ensures that shippers comply with regulatory requirements and UPS carrier variations.

Shipping Requirements and Restrictions

When shipping hazardous materials with UPS, there are specific requirements and restrictions that must be followed:

• All hazardous materials shipments must be processed using a UPS-compliant shipping solution, such as the UPS-provided WorldShip, or approved third-party software.
• Domestic and International Dangerous Goods (IDG) shipments requiring documentation must be prepared using hazardous materials shipment preparation software.
• UPS accepts hazardous materials in air service level packages prepared according to the U.S. DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) or the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).
• Shippers must comply with the 49 CFR conditions and limitations when using the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air.
• Failure to comply with applicable DOT or IATA regulations may result in enforcement action by the appropriate authorities.
• UPS has additional carrier variations that must be followed, such as specific marking requirements for certain types of shipments.
• Certain items, such as fully regulated dangerous goods, hazardous waste, and specific types of batteries, are prohibited from transportation by UPS.

Training and Education

UPS emphasizes the importance of proper training and education for employees involved in handling and shipping hazardous materials. They offer the UPS Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods Webinar, which provides up-to-date information on safe and proper shipping procedures, packaging requirements, and regulatory compliance. Regular recurrent training is mandatory for forwarders, shippers, and employees involved in the shipping and handling of hazardous materials.

Additional Considerations

UPS also provides resources to help identify common items that may be hazardous and offers specific guides for shipping items such as laptops, plants, animals, hemp/CBD, batteries, firearms, and ammunition. It is crucial to carefully review and adhere to all applicable laws, regulations, and UPS guidelines when shipping hazardous materials to ensure safety, compliance, and efficiency.

UPS privacy notice

We at United Parcel Service, Inc., along with our subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, "UPS"), respect your concerns about privacy. This Privacy Notice describes the types of personal information we collect about consumers, how we may use the information, and with whom we may share it. The notice also describes the measures we take to safeguard the personal information.

Information We Obtain

We may obtain consumer personal information (such as name, contact details, and payment information) in connection with various activities such as:

• Use of the UPS websites and applications
• Shipping activities, including delivery and pick-up of shipments
• Requests to track shipments or answer questions
• Events in which we participate
• Promotions and other offers
• Calls placed or web-based chats with customer service and accounting centers, which may be recorded

The types of personal information we may obtain include:

• Individual and business contact information (such as name, company name, physical address, email address, and telephone or fax number)
• Shipping information (such as shipping-related contact details, signature for proof of delivery, UPS account number, and information given to us that helps us access locations to which we provide service)
• Information that enables us to verify an individual's identity
• Names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of others to whom we are asked to send information
• Information provided in response to surveys
• Username, password, and other credentials used to access UPS products and services
• Social media handles, content, and other data posted on our official social media pages or elsewhere on the Internet
• The geographic location of your mobile device if you use certain features of our apps
• Payment information (including payment card details or online payment services number and invoicing address) and financial information (such as bank account numbers)
• Tax identification number in specific circumstances
• Other personal information that may be provided to us to obtain a UPS product or service

We also receive consumer personal information from our customers to perform services. We may receive personal information from third parties, including public databases, social media platforms, or third-party partners such as analytics or marketing providers.

When we pick up or deliver a shipment or provide other services, we may obtain physical location data, including GPS data, geocodes, latitude, and longitude information, and images of the various locations.

How We Use the Information We Obtain

We may use the information we obtain for the following purposes:

• Pick up, deliver, and track shipments
• Provide products and services requested by the consumer (such as logistics, supply chain management, customs clearance, and brokerage services)
• Process and collect payments
• Provide customer support and respond to requests, questions, and comments
• Send tracking updates and help select convenient delivery options
• Establish and manage the consumer's UPS account
• Offer products and services that may interest the consumer
• Communicate about and administer participation in special events, programs, surveys, contests, and other offers or promotions
• Enable consumers to post on our blogs and interact with UPS through social media
• Send information to the consumer's contacts if requested
• Process claims received in connection with our services
• Operate, evaluate, and improve our business (including developing new products and services, managing communications, analyzing and enhancing our products and services, performing accounting and auditing activities, etc.)
• Perform data analyses (including market and consumer search analytics, trend analysis, and profiling)
• Protect against, identify, and prevent fraud, claims, and other liabilities
• Comply with applicable legal requirements and our policies
• Establish, exercise, and defend legal claims
• Monitor and report compliance issues

Information We Share

We do not sell or share personal information about you, except as described in this Privacy Notice. To perform our pick-up and delivery services, we share shipping information with third parties such as shippers, consignees, third-party payers, and recipients. We also share personal information with third parties who perform services on our behalf, such as third-party software providers that support our web-based chats. These third parties are not authorized to use or disclose the information except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or comply with legal requirements.

We may also share personal information with our affiliates, franchisees, resellers, and joint marketing partners. We refer to these entities collectively as "UPS Business Partners." UPS Business Partners may use the information for the purposes described in this Privacy Notice. We may share physical location data with UPS Business Partners and other third parties to enhance location-based services and develop accurate and up-to-date maps.

Access and Correction

Subject to applicable law, you may obtain a copy of certain personal information we maintain about you or update or correct inaccuracies in that information through your ups.com account or by contacting us as indicated in the "How to Contact Us" section of this Privacy Notice. We will take steps to verify your identity before granting access to personal information to protect your privacy and maintain security.

How We Protect Personal Information

We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the personal information you provide against accidental, unlawful, or unauthorized destruction, loss, alteration, access, disclosure, or use. However, information located on the outside of a package or letter may be visible to others.

Updates to Our Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice may be updated periodically without prior notice to reflect changes in our personal information practices. We will post a prominent notice on our websites to notify you of any significant changes to our Privacy Notice.

Frequently asked questions