Guy hit my mailbox - here is my plan...

[mudman]

So... Saturday night I hear a smash and then a vehicle hard braking while I'm reading a book in the back of my house. I get up and see that my neighbor has turned her front porch lights on but as I make it to the window the vehicle is leaving - no big deal, time for bed. This morning I see I have a smashed mailbox about the same time my neighbor calls me to ask if I can water her gardens while she is away, "...and oh yeah, I saw a green F150 hit your mail box last night, thought you should know."

Well later this morning I went down to the road to inspect the damage, no buffing this one out (it has been hit 5-6 times in the last couple of years, we live on what is technically a [dirt] one lane road). I found the remains of the mirror and housing, sure enough, F150 piece, and I put it in my mailbox with the door half shut.

This afternoon I saw a kid from down the street who drives a F150 missing his driver's mirror. I know I said it is a one lane road but in front of my house two cars can (two dually trucks hauling hay trailers, I live in a very rural area) pass each other without a problem so this kid was totally on the 'wrong' side of the road when he smashed my box, and the dents in the box show his direction of travel.

Just a few minutes ago my wife comes into the house cursing - the punk killed his lights as he approached our box, stopped and took the mirror remnants out of my mailbox, then drove off. She was caught off gaurd otherwise she would've chucked a rock at his car while screaming... temper temper.

Here is my plan: If by tomorrow evening there isn't a new mailbox ( Home Depot is open on Sunday, so he had all of today) sitting down at the road I'm going to post a sign reading 'Hey O'hearn(the kid's name), where is my new mailbox?'. Then if by Tuesday evening I still don't have a comparable replacement for my box I'm going to contact the post office and Sherrif's office about him removing something from MY mailbox. Note: the mirror remnants sat in my yard all morning without being retrieved, and then place IN my mailbox, this would make it a federal offense, yes?

Am I out of line with this, should I expect this kid to step up and take responsibility for his actions? I've lived in this area my entire life, and I know most of my neighbors in a one mile radius. This kid is a punk that regularly speeds down our tight dirt road and used to 'bump' in his previous rides, most likely drunk when he hit our box.

Wuduya think?
Thanks for the advice, I'll post pics of the box when the sun is up tomorrow...

[stomachmonkey]

Uhm, I'd drive over there and tell him you expect a new mailbox, give him your timeline, then call the cops and file a report.

If he's a dirtbag like you say and it is a small town I'm sure he's a known actor and they might enjoy breaking his chops a bit.

[onlycafe]

sounds like a job for.........this guy.

[TimT]

Kind of off the wall response..

Beside building racecars for the last 25 years... I've had to supplement my income sometimes...

I'm a engineer, civil.. but working on bridges around Manhattan..

I worked with a contractor who used to place one or two concrete filled traffic cones for the lane closure..

Invariably, someone who is so upset... when there is a lane closed, they will knock the cones over...

They then strike the concrete filled cone and damage is done to there car..

The offending cone is removed when the crew resets the cones...

BTW I have no problem with this contractors methods..

I work in these lane closures... and it can be very dangerous.. especially when some people het upset and come into the lane we are working in...

[Gogar]

SHUT UP, DONNY!

Go over there and talk with him, and be calm. People tend to act MUCH differently face-to-face. Don't make it an argument, though, because then it will go nowhere.

[onlycafe]

as long as you are mixing up the concrete, you could fill his mailbox with it. or if you really want to slow him down, a few yards of 'crete in his pick up bed.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by mudman

Note: the mirror remnants sat in my yard all morning without being retrieved, and then place IN my mailbox, this would make it a federal offense, yes?

No, not unless it was mailed to you (or had a stamp on it for mailing).

[mudman]

I've gotta several a tons of big boulders handy and a machine to deliver them, but no cement. Maybe I can say that I was just making a delivery (blocking his truck in) and got the wrong address...

[mudman]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

No, not unless it was mailed to you (or had a stamp on it for mailing).

So, I can open someone's mailbox legally, as long as I don't take something with a stamp on it? WTF?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by mudman

.... the punk killed his lights as he approached our box, stopped and took the mirror remnants out of my mailbox, then drove off....

He has no intention of replacing it on his own. If you think that you are beyond delusional.

If he did he would not sneak up to your mailbox to retrieve the evidence. He would come up to your door and say "uh, listen dude, I hit your mailbox last night, sorry bout that, I'll make it right"

If you are afraid to confront him then you should just go get yourself a new mailbox now cause that's how it's gonne end.

[mudman]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

If you are afraid to confront him then you should just go get yourself a new mailbox now cause that's how it's gonne end.

Oh no, I know his mom, that is NOT how this is going to end...

[m21sniper]

You should just go take their mailbox and plant it in front of your house with a big sign saying "Thanks for the new mailbox master O'hearn!"

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by mudman

So, I can open someone's mailbox legally, as long as I don't take something with a stamp on it? WTF?

Technically, you (also) broke the law by putting the mirror parts inside...

Existing residential mailbox laws state that only authorized letter carriers may insert mail into a residential mailbox. A penalty will be imposed for anyone who is not a letter carrier and is inserting mail in the residential mailbox. It is a federal offense for tampering with the mail and a fine or possibly jail time can be the punishment for the offense. Generally, resident mailboxes are for mail use only.

The USPS Domestic Mail Manual states that “no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items of matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle.” In other words, the mailbox may not be used for anything other than for pieces of mail with postage attached. The USPS Domestic Mail Manual goes on to states that it is a federal offense and there is a significant penalty for violating this law.

Homeowners need to be aware that even though they purchased and maintain the residential mailbox, the mailbox belongs to and is controlled by the USPS (United States Postal Service).

[mudman]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

You should just go take their mailbox and plant it in front of your house with a big sign saying "Thanks for the new mailbox master O'hearn!"

A few years ago before the antipsychotics and therapy I would've made a spectacle out of this, but I've gotta play it cool and legal, I'm young in an area and house where the right people pissed off could ruin me for a long time. I've pushed my luck in the past, and the cops are awesome but can't look the other way anymore.

[mudman]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

Technically, you (also) broke the law by putting the mirror parts inside...

Existing residential mailbox laws state that only authorized letter carriers may insert mail into a residential mailbox. A penalty will be imposed for anyone who is not a letter carrier and is inserting mail in the residential mailbox. It is a federal offense for tampering with the mail and a fine or possibly jail time can be the punishment for the offense. Generally, resident mailboxes are for mail use only.

The USPS Domestic Mail Manual states that “no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items of matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle.” In other words, the mailbox may not be used for anything other than for pieces of mail with postage attached. The USPS Domestic Mail Manual goes on to states that it is a federal offense and there is a significant penalty for violating this law.

Homeowners need to be aware that even though they purchased and maintain the residential mailbox, the mailbox belongs to and is controlled by the USPS (United States Postal Service).

Considering that on more than one occasion I've received mail on Sunday instead of Saturday or not at all during the week my post office wouldn't be able to comprehend rules/regs and would help me in whatever I wanted to pursue... Not kidding about the Sunday/ no delivery thing, it is pathetic

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by mudman

Considering that on more than one occasion I've received mail on Sunday instead of Saturday or not at all during the week my post office wouldn't be able to comprehend rules/regs and would help me in whatever I wanted to pursue...

OK, then. Call the Postal Inspectors on Monday morning and let us know what they say...

[mudman]

Originally Posted by onlycafe

sounds like a job for.........this guy.

Ummm, I just got this yesterday for woodchucks and racoons, think it'll work?

[Rick Lee]

My grandfather was the kind of guy who was always trying to build a better mousetrap. When some kids played mailbox baseball on his street, he boobytrapped his and it worked. He put the mailbox on a pole, but installed a bearing so the mailbox would spin very freely if nudged. He then put angle iron on three sides of the mount, facing left right and back toward the house, but not toward the road. Next time a kid hit his mailbox, yes, the mailbox was smashed it, but the kid's car definitely got some serious scratches, if not the kid himself.

[Hawktel]

Call the kid and tell him your ready for your new mailbox now. Chances are he will deny it. Buy a new mailbox, and put it up, and put up the sign, thanks for the new mailbox (dip*****s name here)

[rouxroux]

Originally Posted by Hawktel

(dip*****s name here)

Must not have received the memo...

(remember, we must tread lightly now)