Upper Bern Township allows property owners to place mailboxes within the Township’s legal right-of-way, out of respect for the U.S. Postal Service’s need to deliver, and mail customers’ convenience of home delivery. However, mailbox damage is the responsibility of the property owner.
The Township’s mission throughout the winter months is to maintain safe and passable roads. Often, keeping roads open means plowing deep snow to the edge of the right-of- way. Since most mailboxes are placed within the Township’s legal right-of-way, it is up to the homeowner to make sure their mailbox can withstand the weight of snow being thrown from a plow.
Snow plow operators are instructed to maintain lower speeds when plowing areas where mailboxes are present, however, there is times when higher speeds must be maintained to contend with heavy, wet snow.
Upper Bern Township offers these tips to help eliminate the possibility of a mailbox being damaged during the winter months:
- Make sure the mailbox is firmly supported in the ground
- Make sure the mailbox is firmly secured to its post
- Remove snow from around the mailbox, but avoid throwing it back onto the road
- Place a six to eight-inch piece of reflective tape on the mailbox to help snow plow operators see it at night
- Place the mailbox as far beyond the shoulder of the road as the postal carrier can reach
- Consider installing a cantilever mailbox support that will “swing” a mailbox out of harm’s way
Taking these steps to ensure the visibility and stability of your mailbox will help both the Township and the postal carriers deliver their best service throughout the winter.
If the mailbox is located within the legal right-of-way and damage was experienced in the past, homeowners may want to consider relocating the mailbox before the next snowfall.
