A new neighbor in the apartment complex was waking me up every morning at 5 AM. After 2 weeks I decided to write him a note (very polite and not finger pointing). Because I never see him due to different schedules, I decided to put the note in the mailbox. He said that was a federal felony. Any other oppinions? Thank you.
2007-10-09 08:14:54 · 11 answers · asked by Andrew 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Technically speaking it is a federal offense unless it is a mail slot on the door or a non-lockable mail bin. A better option would have been to leave the note on the door or to actually mail the letter.
Regulations are below:
United States Postal Service
Domestic Mail Manual
1.0 Basic Standards
1.1Authorized Depository
Except as excluded by 1.2, every letterbox or other receptacle intended or used for the receipt or delivery of mail on any city delivery route, rural delivery route, highway contract route, or other mail route is designated an authorized depository for mail within the meaning of 18 USC 1702, 1705, 1708, and 1725.
1.2Exclusions
Door slots and nonlockable bins or troughs used with apartment house mailboxes are not letterboxes within the meaning of 18 USC 1725 and are not private mail receptacles for the standards for mailable matter not bearing postage found in or on private mail receptacles. The post or other support is not part of the receptacle.
1.3Use for Mail
Except under 2.11, the receptacles described in 1.1 may be used only for matter bearing postage. Other than as permitted by 2.10 or 2.11, no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail.
2007-10-09 08:23:04 · answer #1 · answered by grk_tigris 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is. He's right. Ask any post office and they will tell you that. You can't even put a note on top of a mailbox or the hook. Another words if it doesn't have a stamp on it don't let it touch the box at all or you broke the law. I know this from first hand experience. I had once put flyer's in mailbox's with no stamps on them and got fined by the post office.
Susie D's answer below is very wrong. Do not listen to her.
2007-10-09 08:24:51 · answer #2 · answered by Old School 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, you are not supposed to put something in a person's mailbox unless it has the proper postage in it. In fact, I think that it is supposed to be delivered by the post office.
However, I do not think that you are going to go to jail for it. Don't do it again. If you want to put a letter in the mail box, then put postage on it and mail it to the guy. Once again, you will need to be very polite and make no threats of any kind.
I would have contacted the apartment office and took the case up with them, myself.
2007-10-09 08:20:01 · answer #3 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
believe me the FBI have extra useful issues to do. If it have been a "probability" or some thing unlawful, a letter or commercial or a comercial rely without paying postage then particular she may be in difficulty. yet an elementary be conscious between acquaintances isn't a a huge deal for the Postal place of work. via how: I agree it replaced right into a dumb thought, a be conscious is ineffective if the neighbor is a jerk. There are courts to handle community disputes.
2016-10-06 09:25:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about it being a felony, but it is against postal regulations for anyone but the mail box owner and the post office to put anything in a mail box. You could probably get a better answer by calling your local post office.
2007-10-09 08:20:27 · answer #5 · answered by Jolly 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not quite sure of the federal law on the subject is.
But my take on it is, who cares? Your neighbor is obviously an idiot who is less concerned about disturbing people and more concerned about playing lawyer and applying the law where it wasn't intended to be applying.
Don't worry about, you won't be prosecuted for this. In the future, you tried to politely tell your neighbor, he ignored you. Start calling the police and hope he gets cited for a noise complaint.
2007-10-09 08:29:48 · answer #6 · answered by Kenneth C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as the letter does not consist of 3782 pages or has any other extreme properties which might damage the mailbox, no.
He's telling you it's a felony because he is arrogant and wants to intimidate you.
2007-10-09 08:34:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, it is illegal. But it is a very common practice and I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for it. The issue has to do with the mailbox being reserved for the postal service's use.
2007-10-09 09:03:17 · answer #8 · answered by StephenWeinstein 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't put anything in someone else's mailbox. ever. It is illegal to put anything in someone's mailbox unless the item was actually mailed.
If I were you I would slip the note under his door instead.
2007-10-09 08:21:23 · answer #9 · answered by Laura Lovegood 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a federal offense to tamper with the mail - but putting a note in box is not. Placing a bomb in a box is. (If the note exploded you're in touble!)
Next time staple it to the morons foreheard!
2007-10-09 08:20:37 · answer #10 · answered by Susie D 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋