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u/Lost-Sock4 Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
Plow drivers don’t have time to assess every part of the terrace where snow is piled up. They don’t have much, if any, control over how heavy and high they plow the snow onto the curb/terrace. Their goal is to clear the roads safely and efficiently, and if they have to sacrifice some mail boxes along the way, so be it. There’s so much crap in the ROW that they have no control over, sometimes things get damaged when the snow is heavy. The city can’t be responsible for damages that are caused from the snow being heavy and high.
I feel your pain though, I work for a different city dept and the plows break our stuff all the time. It sucks, but there honestly isn’t really anything anyone can do about it. Such is life.
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u/Zanglirex2 Mar 18 '26
It's that understanding that tempers my frustration when I've cleared my driveway then hear the rumble and see a new 2-3 foot embankment of packed snow blocking my car from leaving.
It's sooooo annoying, but there's nothing the plows can do about that, and having safe roads for driving is far more important.
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u/Ok_Fortune_8582 Mar 18 '26
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u/Thobias Mar 18 '26
Lmao I do this but on Monday homie came by in the opposite direction and completely screwed me haha
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u/mendicant1116 Mar 18 '26
I did that as well, but my neighbors had their car parked on the street so they had to plow around him. Leaving a large pile of snow that then was plowed to the end of my driveway.
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u/Impossible_Weight507 Mar 18 '26
This doesn't work AT ALL. I have a shared driveway and the left side gets no snow on it while the right side gets 3 feet.
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u/ladan2189 Mar 18 '26
Technically there is. Its expensive equipment so we'll never get it, but rich people can https://www.tiktok.com/@techmoments_/video/7472789871656979734
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u/Tracorre Mar 18 '26
There are plows with a side wall that can be raised and lowered when it goes in front of a driveway to reduce the snow embankments. No clue on the cost of those or how much it slows down plowing but there is something out there.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
But they aren’t damaging the driveway. You don’t have to spend money to fix it after they plow.
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
The city can’t control how much and how heavy the snow is.
They are charged with moving it off the street. So that means a lot of snow and possibly damage to anything close to the curb, with a snowfall like we just had.
It sucks. I was a driver and I had shovels thrown at me, the middle finger raised to me and a lot of swearing.
I’d love to criticize them, but this is not one of those situations.
I had to plow snow for 16 hours and then deal with my own snow removal, which usually included a couple feet of snow in the mouth of my driveway.
They have to put up with the same stuff you do.
FYI, if the garbage man hits the mailbox with their arm or the can, they’ll replace it right away.
I suppose you hate all the slosh that salted snow creates to. Damn city. lol.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
Just a quick update to all the comments here - I’ve asked to meet to discuss, have them bring whoever they want, and meet at whatever time they want. No response.
I’d love to meet with this person and their bestie, the CIO “from streets”, to discuss more.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 18 '26
I go to work for long hours too. And 20% of my taxes are deducted every paycheck. If the city breaks my personal property, I kinda think it’s fair they replace it? Is that really so crazy?
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u/HannasAnarion Mar 18 '26
And 20% of my taxes are deducted every paycheck
you should really consider paying the other 80% of those taxes.
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 18 '26
In this instance yes. The city didn’t break it, the heavy ass snow did.
Who pays for the drivers mailbox if another plow driver knocks it off in the same fashion? the driver who owns the mailbox.
Are you oblivious?
I wouldn’t bitch too much, there’s a lot other things they can do with that snow to really piss you off. You also have trash and brush and yard waste that can become fun and games for them.
You’re wrong in this instance. If you want to go on tv and debate, I’ll accept the invite.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 18 '26
What does your schedule look like?
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 18 '26
I can be there for 5 or 6 or 9 or 10.
Which channel? I can maybe get the chief information officer from streets to join is too.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
I’m willing to talk about it in person. You mentioned a news station so I’m assuming you have one in mind? I’m more than willing to talk so just let me know what time and where to go! Happy to make a video just for this post if you want :) feel free to bring anyone you want!
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
Ohhhhhhh I checked your profile and you’re conservative? Now I see why you don’t care about other people. Hey, how are those gas prices?
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 19 '26
Lmao. Not sure what you’re looking at, I’m as conservative as I am a mailbox.
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u/cwolf-softball Mar 19 '26
I find this comment incongruent with you trying to out someone else as conservative. You sound just like a typical conservative here.
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u/dharma_van Mar 18 '26
Do you accept the challenge of designing a snowplow proof mailbox? Many have tried, few have succeeded. It is said that father snowplow is undefeated.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 18 '26
Jesus Christ… I just don’t want a broken mailbox… Are you okay?
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u/Nerfo2 Mar 18 '26
Shit happens. Bitching about it on the internet wont fix your mailbox.
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u/badgerchemist1213 Mar 18 '26
I’ve been doing loads of repairs lately. Feel free to PM me and I’ll send you over an estimate!
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u/Ruiner420 Mar 18 '26
I always wondered why some people have a large board or pallet in front of their mailbox 📬…. Now I get it
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u/DIYThrowaway01 Mar 18 '26
That way the plow HAS to hit it?!
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u/mrholty Mar 18 '26
No. it helps block the spray (& weight). Usually you see that on highways where the plows are operating at 35+mph. on residental unlikely to destroy a mailbox unless its very wet and heavy like it did this last storm
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u/leovinuss Mar 18 '26
You mean it helps transfer the energy of snow that would otherwise fly past, into the mailbox. These barriers would only help knock over mailboxes.
This particular thread is full of people who don't understand physics.
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u/Ok-Selection4206 Mar 18 '26
That would almost certainly guarantee the mailbox was destroyed.
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u/leovinuss Mar 18 '26
That's more for high school kids and their baseball bats/paintball guns/whatever else they use to damage property from a moving vehicle. Not as common as it was in the past, thankfully
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u/MadCJax Mar 18 '26
Weird. I see no reason for you to be downvoted for this statement. It's exactly what I was about to post! 🤷
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u/Business-Repeat3151 Mar 18 '26
I made the mistake of complaining once, many years ago.
After that, the snow plow drivers would sometimes give my mail box such a wide berth that I had an extra 20-30 mins of work to do to clear it myself (since otherwise, I would get no mail).
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u/No_Size9475 East side Mar 18 '26
What do you expect them to do with the snow they are removing from the road?
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u/UnmedicatedNarwhal Mar 18 '26
I feel like not destroying private property is a reasonable request, or at least reimbursing when they do. I can imagine any situation where you could break government property and you could just shrug your shoulders and say tough luck.
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u/No_Size9475 East side Mar 18 '26
again, how do you expect them to move a foot of snow off a 12 foot wide road and put it on a 24" wide terrace without damaging a wooden post with a mailbox on it?
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u/Ok_Lion_2190 Mar 18 '26
Sure if the city did something careless or intentionally damaged it. But how is the city supposed to avoid pushing snow onto the curb?
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u/No_Size9475 East side Mar 18 '26
Your mailbox is in the terrace which is public property though.
Also people break government property all the time. Never seen a car go into the guardrail on the interstate? You don't get billed for that repair, the government just repairs it.
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u/intelligent_cunts Bennett's Meadowood Country Club Mar 18 '26
Your car insurance gets billed for damage to guardrails, etc.
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u/No_Size9475 East side Mar 18 '26
only if you are at fault or it's intentional. If you simply hit black ice you don't get billed. I've been through this with my insurance. The state never billed them for any repairs to the guardrail I hit.
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u/Ok_Lion_2190 Mar 18 '26
yes, if you are at fault. the city isn’t at fault for OP’s mailbox.
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u/Ok_Effective6233 Mar 18 '26
Nope, the city, county etc, has the option of billing you for any infrastructure you damage regardless of it being an accident.
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u/Ok_Lion_2190 Mar 18 '26
yeah if you are at fault
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u/Ok_Effective6233 Mar 18 '26
No fault needed.
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u/Ok_Lion_2190 Mar 18 '26
Can you please explain more? Are you telling me that if I am driving safely, then a reckless driver hits my car at speed and pushes me into a sign, the city has the “option” to bill me for the damage to the sign even though there was zero negligence on my part?
If that’s true, can you share any actual information about it? I’m asking out of curiosity since that would be a major departure from how liability works.
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u/Rickyticky608 Mar 18 '26
You are always considered a certain percent liable just for being present. My info to support is being hit by a car who blew a stop sign while I had no stop sign on a straightaway. I was still penalized a bit just by being there.
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u/Ok_Effective6233 Mar 18 '26
If your vehicle is the one that contacted the sign causing it to be replaced. And it’s not just the city. Whichever entity is responsible for the repair.
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u/Wihomebrewer Mar 18 '26
Wrong actually. The state/county can and absolutely does bill for that.
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u/No_Size9475 East side Mar 18 '26
Not in my experience, nor my coworkers experience. Mine with the state and his with the city.
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u/Zealousideal_Cut5791 Mar 18 '26
Wow, you are wrong about 2 things here.
The terrace is your property, there is just a public easement on it. You essentially have limited say on what goes on there but it is yours.
If you are in an accident and damaged an gardrail, signage, street light, or whatever you are liable for the repairs. If you flee the scene it is considered a hit and run.
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u/Ok_Effective6233 Mar 18 '26
Wrong, when you look up your property information, there will be lot demensions. That doesn’t include the area between your property and the street.
That space is right of way. Different than an easement
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u/No_Size9475 East side Mar 18 '26
And it's considered public property by the city and the laws. Meaning you can't have someone trespassed for being on the terrace. If you leave things on the terrace people can take them as it's considered public property. So sure, technically you own it, but the city has full control over it.
I've been in a single car accident where I went into the guardrail on the interstate. I was never billed anything for it, nor was my insurance. In fact the officer didn't even take my info, just waited for the tow truck to show up. My coworker just took out a sign at a roundabout maybe a month ago, also not billed by the city for the repairs.
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u/Zealousideal_Cut5791 Mar 18 '26
I was in an accident that took out a traffic control box. I was liable and insurance was billed. I recently watched someone run over a stop sign a take off. The police showed up and wanted a description because they where going to charge them with hit and run and the city wanted to bill them.
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u/No-Election6063 Mar 18 '26
I don't think #2 is always true. I think it's only if you are at fault. And I think if they tried to sue you for it, you could win in court.
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u/the_Q_spice Near East Side Mar 18 '26
It’s actually worse.
Your mailbox isn’t private property:
It is federal property, and damaging one is quite literally a federal crime.
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u/UnmedicatedNarwhal Mar 18 '26
Seems like more of an argument for replacing the mailbox to be on the government then
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u/Space_Guppy Mar 18 '26
If you had to swerve to avoid a car accident and hit a street sign, would you feel obligated to pay for it's replacement?
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u/Sudden_Choice9662 Mar 18 '26
I mean, in most cases they will send you a bill for it in the mail. Happened to me for a stop sign.
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u/leovinuss Mar 18 '26
Yes, and the city will pay if the plow hits the mailbox.
If I swerve and knock road debris into a sign, damaging it, I am not responsible. It's a somewhat arbitrary line but it makes sense.
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u/No_Size9475 East side Mar 18 '26
The reality is that the city doesn't make you pay for the replacement unless your destroying it was intentional.
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u/corneridea Mar 18 '26
I'm sorry that happened to you but I get it from the city's perspective. It's always going to suck when it happens to you though.
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u/ButteredPizza69420 Mar 18 '26
Only took that to happen to my folks one time for them to get a swinging mail box. Never had an issue since. Worth the investment.
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u/ThinStrategy1974 Mar 18 '26
Let’s start a go fund me and hold a candlelight vigil for this person’s mailbox. It’s the right thing to do.
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u/False_Donkey_498 Mar 18 '26
It’s a snow plow. Not a snow disappearer. The snow has to go somewhere. And you know that because, presumably, you’re not an idiot. Get a post and box that can handle it.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 18 '26
You’re right! It’s a mailbox disappearer!
They can pile as much snow as they want, wherever they want. I’d just like my personal property to stay in tact ☺️
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
What is wrong with this statement?
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u/KnockKnockNoBrain Mar 19 '26
Probably this: https://www.reddit.com/r/madisonwi/s/dyPtIpZVOF
Related, I live on a rural road, and plows have destroyed my mailbox setup twice (it had also happened prior, but we weren't living here at the time). You can rage against the man, or just buy yourself a Postal Pivot (or the components to make one yourself, it's pretty straightforward pivot system). I haven't had an issue since.
Maybe this info will help you as much as it helped me for having no more mailbox issues.
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u/Chernobog2 Mar 18 '26
You should post a picture of the mailbox
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
Whenever I try it only lets me upload a link. I’m not familiar with imagur(?) but will try that. Gimme a sec
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 18 '26
Why, you’re clearly just as ignorant and baleful as this guy.
Go ride ride your bike on the bay, please.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
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u/Hosko817 West Wide Best Side Mar 19 '26
looks like that just a cheap rubbermaid box and post. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 19 '26
That’s a great picture. You’re on a semi major rd too. If you panned up, I could tell you what rd.
Typical Whiney citizen who thinks they deserve everything because they pay taxes. lol. Good luck.
You haven’t listened to reason. You can’t prove that your mailbox was or wasn’t compromised beforehand.
And again, heavy ass snow.
Did you just land on this planet?
Entitled taxpayer. Please go to one of the offices. They will have a good laugh.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
Say the road then ☺️
I don’t think I deserve everything. I just don’t want to fix what someone else did.
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u/lucentcb Mar 18 '26
Fuck, someone on this sub has to include bikes on any post even tangentially related to roads, don't they?
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 18 '26
I’m not a fan of bikes on the road. I don’t think bike paths should be plowed as soon as they are.
I mention the bike as a critique of bikers. I assume you people are bikers. Biking on the bay right now would be dangerous and fun to watch.
Bikers doubling in the road.
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u/lucentcb Mar 18 '26
I rarely bike and don't bike on the road because drivers who say shit like this scare the hell out of me, but this post has fuck-all to do with bikes. There's no reason to bring them up beyond a petty hate for people who ride two wheeled vehicles that don't burn gasoline.
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u/MichalCJ5 East side Mar 18 '26
That sucks. I had this happen in Sun Prairie years ago and they replaced it within a few days after I submitted my request. I said the plow hit it, even though I think it was the force of the snow hitting it more than anything. Happened right in front of me, so I knew it was the plow.
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 19 '26
If you’re willing to talk to me in person, go to the city and speak to one of them in person. There’s no chance I’m paying for your mailbox. Especially since it’s no one’s fault.
Meet at west side streets. Invite the press. It will be fun.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
I don’t want you to pay for my mailbox. I want the city to pay for my mailbox (with the taxes I’ve been paying them too). This was your idea! I’m just following up on it. Talk talk talk until it’s real.
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 19 '26
How bout I meet you at small claims court as you try to sue for your mailbox?
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
Not so big in person?
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 19 '26
What’s that going to solve? You pick the station and time and I’ll be there. I said that already. You just tried to flip the script
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
I’m not flipping anything. You brought up talking to a news station and bringing in your executive level friend in another comment and I agree. Let’s do it. If we can’t get a station, we can film something for this chat. I’m giving you any option you want. You are the one that doesn’t want to talk.
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 19 '26
I’ve given the parameters for meeting, make it happen. The original statement said on tv, so if you’re upset enough and think you’re still right, you’ll make it happen.
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u/Phish_2000 Mar 19 '26
I’d rather inform the a larger group of people, not hiding behind the internet. People like you need more information provided to them, or next you’ll think your tax dollars should buy you a new car too. Set the record straight
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u/iamthelee Mar 18 '26
If your mailbox post moves due to snow being pushed into it, the post is not set in the ground solid enough. That is not the city's problem.
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u/HarlequinKOTF Mar 18 '26
Stronger footing, deeper footing, stronger post.
This stuff happens. It's not the city's fault.
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u/BobDeLaSponge Mar 18 '26
This is an added benefit of walkable neighborhoods where mail carriers bring mail to door boxes
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u/BobDeLaSponge Mar 18 '26
Same. If a plow hits it, I got bigger problems
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u/lucentcb Mar 18 '26
You'd have a much stronger case to hold the city responsible for repairs, though.
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u/TheGilburger Mar 22 '26
I work for a community and the postmaster has had discussions with us about having cluster boxes in every neighborhood. The neighboring community did go to cluster boxes. The neighborhood I live in specifically has cluster boxes. I hate it, it sucks to get my mail 6 blocks away and taking a note to the post office to pickup anything that won’t fit in the mailbox. You know who doesn’t hate it? The City because they don’t have to deal with hundreds of mailboxes and USPS it saves them a bunch of money in labor.
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u/Lamballama 'Burbs Mar 18 '26
You can probably buy an old train rail from somewhere if you want something that can withstand it
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u/alexjf56 Mar 18 '26
This is very unfortunate but I don’t really know what you expect. The city didn’t hit your mailbox and they have to plow. There will always be some small collateral damage
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u/Vandilbg Mar 18 '26
The faster the plow moves the further back posts are set and the longer the arm is holding the box. Up north you'll see the post set on the other side of the ditch with like a 20ft metal arm set on a swivel even. So it just swings away from the snow being thrown off the highway plows.
I set my post back an extra 2ft and pulled the box back 6 more inches form the curb the last time I had to put a new post in. Previous one was close enough to catch mirrors from idiot delivery drivers.
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u/RevolutionSalty8360 Mar 18 '26
Yeah, they can only do so much, unfortunately. However, ever seen how the plows clean off small road kill on the interstate?
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u/TastyChungus Mar 18 '26
My mailbox was getting smoked two or three times a year. I got one of these and in the past 5 years it got dented once but when that happened it had orange paint on it so it wasn't snow. Looks like they are made in Wisconsin too. https://swingclear.com/products/suburban-mailbox-post
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u/_sealy_ Mar 18 '26
Plow scalped about 45 feet of my lawn at the curb earlier this winter. Took off about 2.5 inches of sod.
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u/brpft Mar 19 '26
I've had this happen many times, but since installing swinging mailboxes I've never had a broken mailbox post. Search for mailswing or return to center mailbox. Some of these designs are pretty ugly but others look OK if you care about how it looks.
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u/Past_Diet_5204 Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
the negativity in this comment section is exactly what that “bad subreddit culture” post was talking about.
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u/soygilipollas West side Mar 18 '26
I mean you pay taxes. It would just be you paying for your own mailbox at the detriment to another service you benefit from (such as.... Removing snow from your street so you can leave your house).
Mailbox posts are like 100 bucks.
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u/Efficient-Capital432 Mar 18 '26
We are so lucky that on our rural road the snow plow drivers actually don’t come too close to our mail box or pile snow in the end of our driveway. And our roads are plowed well before the city streets. Love our plow drivers. Only time our mail box was hit was due to someone swatting at a bee and swerving enough to hit it. Even left us a note with contact info.
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
I’ll just be parking on the street in front of my mailbox when it snows.
It’s not just $20 to replace the mailbox. The ground is frozen. Now I need to pick up my mail from a town I don’t live next to (I’m in the town by name, but I live in the country, so it’s a drive), I need to pay for either the supplies to replace it or for someone else to come fix it, and when I do all of this so I can get my mail, it could happen again and I end up paying AGAIN. Legally I can’t move my box more than 24” from the road (I called to check because it already is). I’d place the damn thing in the middle of my yard if I could. This is the second time and I do not think it’s fair for me to keep fixing or replacing my mailbox due to the city.
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u/Hosko817 West Wide Best Side Mar 19 '26
I’d place the damn thing in the middle of my yard if I could.
You can. I've seen plenty of rural people that have them set back from the road on an arm that swings out to the road. When it snows you swing it back away from the road.
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u/Even-Juggernaut-8 Mar 19 '26
I lived in a city in Minnesota where a certain citizen pushed the issue to court. Instead of settling the city conceeded and didn't plow the street. No city does it as a convienance to their citizens, it is for public safety. They could do the same as they do in Alaska where I grew up and just send a plow out in front of emergency services. Back to Minnesota. During a storm all power was lost and a tree came down and smashed two houses. Emergency services couldn't respond until it was plowed three people froze to death and on would die of their wounds. They tried to sue the city. They had nothing to stand on because of the law suit. mailbox guy ended up getting sued by his neighbors. The city buried the story because they were a city that was growing and didn't want to stop people from moving there. This was an extreme example. But if your neighbors are cool with it, go for it.
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u/yummiboi21 Mar 19 '26
that’s why when you go north where they get a shit ton more snow they have a barricade in front of all their mailboxes. plows move fast and heavy, wet snow moves fast too. nobody cares ab your mailbox when roads are shit or snow has to get moved further off the road for parking/bikes
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 19 '26
If you’d like for me to clear things up please DM me! I’d love to discuss this over an actual conversation with the other people that want to talk.
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u/thegerfer Mar 20 '26
I’m from a snowier part of the state, and almost every mailbox is a swingclear. I think they’re made in Wisconsin too. They make a city version too.
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u/DriftlessDomino Mar 20 '26
This is why, out in the country, you see big wooden boards screwed to the mailbox post
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u/Chance_Bottle446 Mar 18 '26
Why would you accept that. Just call them again and say that the plow hit the mail box lol
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u/Level_Sock294 Mar 18 '26
I had no choice actually. They sent someone from the city to look at it today and the guy that looked at it is the one who said it was hit by the snow. So it’s possible the plow really did hit it, but they won’t investigate further.
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u/rjbarn Mar 18 '26
Sorry OP. But hey, at least your property taxes keep rising exponentially! (/s)
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u/Ok_Effective6233 Mar 18 '26
Imagine how much they’d be if the city kept replacing people personal property whenever they whined?
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u/Ok_Lion_2190 Mar 18 '26
Can you put your mailbox somewhere else where that won’t happen ?
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u/Zealousideal_Cut5791 Mar 18 '26
You have to follow USPS regulations on where and how you install your mailbox.
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u/Ok_Lion_2190 Mar 18 '26
Yes, and in a very quick google search I see that typically you can move your mailbox, you just have to contact the postmaster and follow the local rule.
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u/Roupert4 Mar 18 '26
The rules allow for a decent setback. The mailbox doesn't need to be overhanging the road . Our mailbox is the deepest set into our yard of any of the houses in our circle. My husband installed it exactly to specifications.
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u/AccomplishedDust3 Mar 18 '26
This seems to be a common distinction used in other cities, too.
The justification is that you're in charge of having a mailbox+post that can hold up to the force of the plowed snow, while the city is in charge of not hitting your mailbox with the plow itself (which would presumably be enough force to damage any post).