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27.03.2014
In accordance with the regulations currently applicable to the postal sector in the Republic of Latvia, Latvijas Pasts has no other option but to deliver postal items only against a proof of identity, which in the Republic of Latvia is a passport and an identity card.
The regulatory framework set for the postal sector results from the Postal Law and the subordinate regulations of the Cabinet. The version of the Cabinet’s regulation previously in force (Postal Regulation No. 445) stated that registered postal items and postal items for an insurance amount of up to LVL 100 shall be issued to the inhabitants upon showing a proof of identity or any other document which indicates the issuer of the relevant document and the term of validity of the document and which contains a photograph, identity number and personal signature of the holder of the document. This means that showing one’s driver's license served the purpose too.
On August 13, 2013, Cabinet’s Regulation No. 537 on Requirements for Delivery of Registered and Insured Postal Items was adopted on the basis of the Postal Law. Paragraph 3 of the said Regulation sets forth that a postal operator shall issue a postal item to the addressee only when a proof of identity is shown. In accordance with the Proof of Identity Law, a proof of identity in the Republic of Latvia shall be a passport and an identity card. The Ministry of the Interior distributed the relevant reminder message regarding the validity of these provisions to all Ministries, and Latvijas Pasts received the said information from the Ministry of Transport last year.
We cannot but agree that the law actually provides for only the two aforementioned documents as a proof of identity of private persons, and should a postal item be issued upon showing a document not complying with the law, the company would have to pay the injured party’s damages. At the same time, Latvijas Pasts is interested in offering the most convenient and simple delivery service to its customers, so Latvijas Pasts has prepared a proposal to the Ministry of Transport to initiate amendments to Cabinet’s Regulation No. 537 on Requirements for Delivery of Registered and Insured Postal Items providing that the items worth up to EUR 150 could be issued upon showing some other document which indicates the issuer of the relevant document and the term of validity of the document and which contains a photograph, identity number and personal signature of the holder of the document.
In pursuit of the customers’ satisfaction, Latvijas Pasts has set a transition period through March 31, 2014 when the customers are asked to show one of the two proofs of identity, and, by way of exception, long-term customers who are known to the staff of the post office are allowed to show their driver's license when receiving a postal item until April 1 this year.
Regulations
· Cabinet’s Regulation No. 537 of August 13, 2013: Regulation on Requirements for Delivery of Registered and Insured Postal Items
Issued pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 131 of the Postal Law
Paragraph 3:
“A postal operator shall issue a postal item to the addressee (or its authorized representative) upon showing a proof of identity (and the power of attorney granted to the authorized representative).”
· Cabinet’s Regulation No. 445 of June 21, 2005: Postal Regulation (ceased to be in force)
Issued pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 2; Paragraphs 4 and 5, Section 7; and Paragraph 2, Section 71 of the Postal Law
Paragraph 50:
“Registered postal items, regular and registered government items, as well as postal items for an insurance amount of up to LVL 100 (inclusive) and money orders for the same amount which are addressed to the inhabitants of Latvia according to the place of residence thereof shall be delivered against signature upon showing a proof of identity or any other document which indicates the issuer of the relevant document and the term of validity of the document and which contains a photograph, identity number and personal signature of the holder of the document.”