Grrrrrrrrrr

[JDgreen]

Around here, snowplows are a fact of life, and we have come up with a few different solutions to the mailbox problem:

1. Put the mailbox on an L-shaped arm, it looks like metal piping of some sort, with one arm of the L in the ground and your mailbox on the other end. When the plow hits the box, it simply swings away and swings back.

2. Anchor the mailbox post into a concrete block or an old milk jug (one of those 2-foot tall black jobs). Set the block or jug into position. When the plow hits the box, the whole thing tips over, and you simply stand it up again.

3. Keep repairing the post, bit by bit, adding on reinforcements as needed until spring. Replace the post each spring.

4. Get a Post office box. :biggrin:

You have to be kidding...PAY for a PO Box and burn five miles worth of gas and a half hour of time to go get my mail and newspapers every day? The law says vandalizing mailboxes is a federal crime, why are the road commission employees exempt from that law? I think they do it on purpose. And my local PO says they will not make deliveries to a box that is not fixed into place. When the post if broken off, it is not possible to anchor a new one into the frozen ground.

 

[JDgreen]

We too have lost many a mailbox to the snowplough, we are also the last folks to be snowplough out in a storm because we are on the outskirts of town, if there is a big storm, you can expect days of delays.

The local road commission clearly says in writing "we will pay for damages if one of our plows hits a mailbox or post" but they almost never do. Fricking liars try to weasel out of every damage claim they get...why do we have to pay taxes to support their incompetent drivers? I drove heavy straight commercial trucks for a living for 31 years thru all kinds of winter weather, much of what was far worse than what we get here locally, and I never put a scratch on anybody's property. Stupid bunglers.

 

[minkyung]

Your discussion about the mailbox reminds me of the cartoon movie, "Up."

JDgreen, I can feel your frustration. I think I would want to do all four things you said if I were in your place. But I think calling the police is best.

 

[JDgreen]

Your discussion about the mailbox reminds me of the cartoon movie, "Up."

JDgreen, I can feel your frustration. I think I would want to do all four things you said if I were in your place. But I think calling the police is best.

LOL thanks, I got a policeman living next door within yelling distance who is a great guy. Road commission plow hit HIS mailbox last winter, they replaced his box prompty. Maybe I'm in the wrong line of work (retired) LOL LOL.

 

[AndyMan]

And my local PO says they will not make deliveries to a box that is not fixed into place. When the post if broken off, it is not possible to anchor a new one into the frozen ground.

Our box is on a post that is anchored into a concrete block. The concrete block sits on the ground. If it is knocked over, we just pick it up. The post office has never said a word about it not being actually IN the ground.

P.S. The REALLY smart folks around here simply have their mail forwarded to Arizona or Florida or wherever they are wintering!

 

[KennyV]

P.S. The REALLY smart folks around here simply have their mail forwarded to Arizona or Florida or wherever they are wintering!

Ha ha:laughing: ... I like that! :smile:KennyV

 

[jenkinsph]

How about mounting your mailbox to a 6" steel pipe set deep in lots of concrete. That will get their attention.:laughing:

 

[JDgreen]

How about mounting your mailbox to a 6" steel pipe set deep in lots of concrete. That will get their attention.:laughing:

Let me guess, you must have seen that episode of "CSI" set in Las Vegas, where the rural guy was so tired of kids destroying his mailbox he filled one with concrete and set it on a heavy post, when the kid hit the box with a bat it broke his arm and crashed the car...they charged the guy with homicide, but I say the little b--------s deserved what they got.

Anyhow, as I interpret the law here, if you install a mailbox on the public right of way that is constructed in a manner as to cause damage or injury to persons or property hitting it you can be found liable for the damages or injury. Believe me, I want to put up something really, really strong like you suggest, but it is basically illegal.

 

[KennyV]

...Believe me, I want to put up something really, really strong like you suggest, but it is basically illegal.

Can NOT do that anywhere, it has to be break away.
I know there are a lot of 'decorative' indestructible mail boxes and posts out there... some are quite creative.
But if you check with your postmaster you will find there are guidelines that cover the construction... If something is damaged because of your deviation from those designs... your liable for any damage. It would be nice to get those that vandalize property, setting traps to do it is questionable ... to some. :smile:KennyV

 

[jenkinsph]

Did you guys miss the smilie?:laughing: