Snowplows and Mailboxes: The Winter Rivalry

As we bask in the warm summer sunshine, I thought it might be a good time to discuss a cooler-weather problem in hopes of assisting your municipality in the future. This is a universal problem in the Commonwealth and one that will not go away anytime soon.

It seems in the snow belt areas, there is no greater rivalry than that of the mild-mannered mailbox and the hulking snowplow. The mailbox stands there defiant to the forms of wind and rain, but as it listens in the distance to that undeniable roar of the plow on a wintry night, it knows full well that unless it is holding on tight, this very well may be its last stand. What follows next is that angry phone call from a resident who insists that you come out ASAP to replace it. The caller is sure the plow truck has decals showing how many mailboxes the driver has hit, similar to WWII pilots’ bombing missions. Let’s break this down further and examine the situation more closely.

First, make sure your municipality has a policy in place for mailbox location and placement. Remember, you are allowing this structure to be located within the right-of-way. That is a hazard already. Therefore, by creating guidelines that everyone should follow, you can avoid this confrontation most of the time. I say most times because, as you all know, you can’t please everyone.

Let’s start with the location of the box. It’s advisable to keep the box at least a couple of feet off the edge of the road. The drawback to this is that mail delivery often leaves ruts in this area and occasionally requires some fill.  One quandary seems to be which side of the ditch the box should be on. For the convenience of the mail carrier, it seems to be best to be on the inside of the ditch, but that sometimes leaves little room to move snow. If placed outside the ditch, it may be too far for the mail carrier to reach. This is when ingenuity can be key – such as placing the mounting post on the outside of the ditch and attaching a long arm to reach the edge of the road. The really creative thinkers among us may even devise a way for the arm to pivot and return to the center. That way, if it is hit, it gives way and slides back to the center. Another idea is to hang the box on a chain, so it swings if hit by the plow. I am sure there are many great ways to create an attractive mailbox setting while still protecting it from snowplows.

For those who believe a cemented-in steel post is the answer,  I bring up the following from the Township Second Class Code:

Section 2326.  Obstructions and Nuisances.-- Any person who obstructs any public road or commits any nuisance thereon by felling trees, making fences, turning the road, diverting water onto or in any other way and who does not, on notice given by the board of supervisors, immediately remove the obstruction or nuisance and repair the damages done to the road commits a summary offense. 

If a plow hits one of these posts, it will most likely do some serious damage to the equipment for which the homeowner can be held responsible.

The best advice for avoiding this type of situation is to encourage homeowners to mount the box so that a plow can pass under it without touching it. This means a height of about 40" or so. Mounting the box so that it is not rigid allows for some give. As most of you already know, it usually isn’t the plow that hits the box; it’s the heavy wet snow. If a plow truck is forced off the road or encounters severe winter conditions and physically hits the box, then, in my opinion, it should be repaired or replaced by the municipality. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, the municipality should do the right thing.

Residents don’t like it when you say they are responsible for damaged mailboxes, but the facts show they can be made to withstand the winter season. “So fire this thing up, and get those mailboxes winter-ready.” 

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About the Author

David L. Anthony is a member of the Keystone Municipal Solutions team of experts. He is a veteran of municipal government, having served more than 33 years in various positions of public service. Contact him at david@keystonemunicipalsolutions.com. To learn more about David and the Keystone Municipal Solutions team, click here.