Don't Ever Do This!

Yeah, I learned that in my political days... big no no so we stick any fliers in between doors, use door hangers, slide between door frame and door.... etc. Sometimes we even rolled them up and put them in the scroll work of wrought iron fences.

My father was a mailman so I was quit aware of this law. But if you put the flyer let say between the flag you are totally fine.

I put invitations to a party in all of my neighbors mailboxes.
The mailman collected all of myinvitations, handed them all back to me and told me about the federal offence. All mailboxes are considered federal property.

Ha, Ha. Very funny. Guess blonds don't have anything on redheads... :) Glad it didn't damper your show!

lucky you. we (here in austria) get our mailboxes stuffed to the brim. anyone can put anything in there.

Wow, thanks for the heads up!! I did not know this. Explains why my neighborhood association tapes flyers to my door instead of putting them in my mailbox. Always wondered about that. I once asked my son to deliver flyers to peoples' mailboxes with photos of my lost cat and a plea to help. For some reason, he was reluctant to do this. He was just a kid, but maybe he instinctively knew this was not a good idea. Never found our cat, poor baby. Miss him still.

Incidentally, I did recently receive a party invitation from one of my neighbors in my mailbox, addressed like a real letter, but there was no postage. So, I'm sure she just walked across the street and put it in my box. I guess if you're caught, you can always feign ignorance. Who would complain, anyhow?

Thanks, Jani!!

I would not place anything on or attached to the mail box ,inside or outside unless you pay the postage. it's all about the money for the stamp.

""Section 1725 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code prohibits placing mailable materials like circulars and sales bills with unpaid postage in mailboxes with intent to avoid payment of postage.

Jani that is funny! Guess we won't be doing that :)

I knew about this law, but it's so easy to forget. I have a lot of empathy for your Lucile moment because it doesn't seem like it should be a crime.

Jani,
Keep doing these kinds of offenses...your blog is great..you write beautifully and I enjoyed the read, Lucy!!
I live in a locked mailbox community. I am ever so thankful that things like spiders cannot crawl in without my key ;)

We don't have mailboxes at our house ,just a superbox for the whole neighborhood. So I would just throw it on their front step. They are bound to step on it and drag it into their house.

I think another reason to not do this is a lot of people think of something stuffed in their mailbox, or by the flag in their mailbox, or in their door, or in their gate or basically anywhere is junk mail or a scam.

I don't think it is "professional" even if it is legit. Just like signs nailed to telephone poles. Do people real hire companies that nail a sign to a telephone pole?

huh....I did not know that. I guess slipping mice in a neighbors mailbox is a bad idea.

Never knew that!! In the UK everyone shoves any old crap through mailboxes (or letter boxes as they're called there)!

Sydne,

You can do that if you put a stamp on them first.

If you really need that flier delivered you could ask "iL Postino" to deliver it, totally legal...

If I could just stop the mailman from putting junk mail in the box - I'd be much happier. It does seem strange to me - YOU have to buy the box - it's your box - how did the USPS grab the rights to your box.??

@ John - yep - the do buy/use the stuff/services of folks that nail ads to trees, light and power poles. They also visit yard sales.

PS: a lot of that stuff jammed into your mailbox by he regular USPS is a scam, just as well. Just think of all the stuff/junk that is advertised on the radio and TV.

Funny story, Jani! I didn't know that it's a federal offense (and I assume it is in Canada as well). I'm about to do a mailing of 500 postcards to my local area. The PO has a flat rate and it isn't too bad a deal if you can get the postcards inexpensively.

I saw a short news piece several years ago about a mailman who had walked the same route for several years and the neighbors all knew him an liked him. At Christmas time, he put a Christmas card in all of his "customer's" mailboxes, but they were without stamps. Somehow the postal service found out and he got fined for doing that.

I guess even some of the postal workers are unaware of this law. Either that, or he figured "it's just a Christmas card, who will care?". Sometimes the letter of the law interferes with the spirit of the law, just like everything else in life.

I would ask how it's possible that all the junk mail gets into my mailbox without my permission. Yet somehow, if you do it, it's a crime. Don't get me started, but you can't do anything in this country without permission from some stupid over reaching authority.

Hopefully you had a successful tour despite the unwanted anxiety.. :)

Well said, Mary ... "Sometimes the letter of the law interferes with the spirit of the law, just like everything else in life."

It's frustrating, but it is what it is. I just put a stamp on a card of condolence yesterday and drove it up to the post office for my neighbor who lives within walking distance of my house.

: /

Marlene is right, you can really write. I have done the same thing. I know it is verbotten but sometimes it is just simpler that way. I guess no one gets themselves in a bunch here in the midwest. Never had a neighbor complain or the postman get ruffled either. Great story though and way to go on the studio tour.

Ya, haha, Sydne, I guess it would be a bad thing to put mice in the neighbors mailbox. Too bad. It's a great idea for a Halloween surprise for that one new favorite neighbor of mine.

John, John and Roy: Never occurred to me that it would be seen as junk mail or a scam because it's not, IMO.

Thanks Kevin and Marlene. That means a lot to me. I've worked hard on learning how to write and love to write. There is no shortage of Lucy like material when it comes to my life.

Mario, I love your postal dude.

Agreed, Lois: well said, Mary.

Australia and UK peeps: perhaps that is the purpose of the law in the USA. Keeps junk mail down to a minimum.

Peggy, as I had no idea about the USA law, I most certainly would not be helpful in knowing the Canada law on this matter. Always better to be safe than sorry, but knowing me, I will always take a risk first. I'm just way too curious and am charmingly good and sincere at appologies.

Nothing good ever came from playing safe. All the things we know and love came from people who took a risk.I will always have my Lucy moments, I think.

Glenn, Redheads are spicy and redheads rule. :-)

Jani, have you heard this one? ... "It's easier to say you're sorry than to ask permission." I think it's more fun too! (Unless you get arrested, that is.)

"Glenn, Redheads are spicy and redheads rule. :-) "

Why, yes. Yes, we are.


I knew of this rule because I got "caught" many years back when I had put a greeting card in a neighbor's mailbox and she never received it. On the other hand, we did get at least one Playboy whose wrapper was disheveled.

You are a fabulous writer

No law like this in Australia......but perhaps there should be since Australia Post is struggling to make a living these days! :-)

Thank you, Isabella.

I have heard that, Peggy, and totally agree. I'd rather live my life appologizing for mistakes than regretting that I never tried something. :-)

My tombstone will probably say: She lived life to the fullest and died from curiosity. I plan on dying while in action.

Ah, Louise, redheads unite! Watch out world, haha.
(And no, that's not an evil laugh, but it is a all-in kind of laugh)

Those "playboys" need to wrap themselves better when they come to the door. I like a well-dressed man. First impressions are golden. ;-)

Yep! I knew about this law because my husband is a political consultant and has been involved with direct mail for many, many campaigns. He knows all the convoluted ins and outs of the USPS. I have to admit if it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't have had a clue. It's amazing how many people don't--I get non-mailed stuff put in my mailbox a lot. I could understand if it was a curbside box that had easy access from the street--but my box is on the wall next to my front door, so they have to come right up on my porch to get to it. Doesn't seem to stop anyone. Maybe I should put a little note under the lid...obviously the USPS is not doing a very good job getting the word out on this one.

I know lots of people who didn't know this, Valerie. I wonder how well it is enforced.

You know what, Jani? Next time, open the outside door and put the flyer between that and the inside door. That, I think, is not illegal. The paper boy used to do that (back before everyone switched to on-line news). As long as it's not in the mailbox, I think you're fine. Or tape them to the door.....

That's a good idea. My problem is how long everyone's driveway is. I feel more like I'm intruding by driving on their driveway more so that putting something in their mailbox.

But I will come up with something for next time.

A lot of times you can buy "Bulk Mail" Stamps, and use them to mail out. Then you are legal, and you do not have to be a business, anyone can do it. And if they ask about your reason, some do, even though they are supposed to sell them to you, they still do. You can just tell them you're an artist and sending out invites to your art show, and want to do it legally. :)

I used to work in the direct mail business. If you live in the US, technically your mailbox is the property of the US Postal Service. That said, so long as you pay for the postage and run it through the postal system you're good.

Where I live many people put stuff on the outside of my mailbox with a rubber band. I personally hate that, but it's something you might consider trying.

It happened to me once for an open art studio. I got a call from the post office; fortunately they only told me I was a bad boy, and not to do it again..

It is illegal, because the post office cannot make any money from it. Once you BUY stamps and engage the services of PAID postal employees, it is legal.

... and yet door-to-door solicitation for Jesus that sends your giant German shepherd dog into a door slamming, barking rage IS legal. Who can I pay to make this sort of soliciting ILLEGAL?

The door-to-door soliciting isn't for Jesus. It's for a church and a place in heaven. Jesus doesn't require this or need people to do this. There is nothing that we can do to get us into heaven or better our place in heaven. We are saved by grace, not works.
I don't like it when they do that either, Robert, for more reasons than the annoyance of it.

@Steven: that's a relief. No calls to me yet. I'm out of the woods on this one.

Thank you, Dan and Chuck for your ideas. :-)