2006-10-18 14:29:28 · 10 answers · asked by kybradky 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
A mailbox considered a property of the US post office. Tampering (or just opening and placing a harmless piece of paper) is seen as a crime and subject to fines. Really, it's just the post office/government wanting to make sure they make their revenue numbers. Now with heightened security, it's also seen as a secutity risk. An except from the source link below:
"In 1934, Congress enacted a law known as the “mailbox restriction” that prohibits anyone from placing mailable matter without postage into any mailbox. This law, 18 U.S.C. 1725, gives the Postal Service a virtual monopoly over mailboxes and currently reads as follows:
“Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits any mailable matter such as statements of accounts, circulars, sale bills, or other like matter, on which no postage has been paid, in any letter box established, approved, or accepted by the Postal Service for the receipt or delivery of mail matter on any mail route with intent to avoid payment of lawful postage thereon, shall for each such offense be fined under this title.”
Under current law, a violation of the mailbox restriction law is an infraction that can be punished by a fine but not by imprisonment. The maximum fine for each offense is $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations."
2006-10-18 14:41:15 · answer #1 · answered by Jamil Ahmad G 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The US Postal Service claims that THEY own all of the mailboxes in the US, and that it is illegal to put ads or anything else in them. I don't think anyone has ever challenged that claim, since I bought my house, and my mailbox, and I attached my mailbox to my house. And I have the receipt to prove it. Therefore, I OWN MY MAILBOX, NOT THE USPS. I don't see how that could ever hold up in court. The FBI has better things to do. At worst, you might get a letter from the postal inspectors office. The guy's a jerk. Don't worry about it.
2016-03-28 01:05:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not unless you mailed them to someone.
The mailbox is federal property, and you have to pay the price to use it.
You can use the newspaper box, though.
2006-10-18 14:33:20 · answer #3 · answered by auntiegrav 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nope you can't put anything in mailboxes but mail. If you didn't pay postage it will be sent back.
2006-10-18 14:38:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is an interesting question, and one that intrigued me for a very long time.
2016-08-23 09:02:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
why not, just like getting a flyer from the pizza joint down the road
2006-10-18 14:54:12 · answer #6 · answered by jjayflash9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is puzzling to me too
2016-07-27 22:16:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO. NO. NO.
U.S. Mail only - just ask a politician.
2006-10-18 14:32:13 · answer #8 · answered by 34th B.G. - USAAF 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no it is not my buisness just got fined for doing it
2006-10-18 14:31:55 · answer #9 · answered by mschmitty920 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
daaaaaaaaaa, does it have postage on it?
2006-10-18 14:32:22 · answer #10 · answered by jl_jack09 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋