Fireworks Article With Some Bad Advice

[skydy]

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/preparing-your-horses-for-the-fireworks/

Someone needs to give the Dr a heads up that putting notes in other peoples mailboxes is a federal crime. Don’t do it. There are other ways to communicate. Tape a note to their front door or speak to them.

From the article:
“McDonnell also recommends checking in with neighbors and reminding them of the presence of your animals. She’s considered leaving notes in her own neighbors’ mailboxes and asking them to share when they plan to set off fireworks.”

I hope the Chronicle can edit that suggestion out of the article.

[Mardi1]

@skydy

…putting notes in other peoples mailboxes is a federal crime.

Have never heard of this.

[skydy]

It is a federal offence. Nothing is to be put in mailboxes but the U.S. mail and opening someone else’s mailbox is not allowed.

[OverandOnward]

@skydy is correct. It is against the law to use mailboxes for anything but mail delivered by, or picked up by, the USPS. Everything has to have a stamp. If it comes to it, the penalty is a fine.

I think the only way one gets into any trouble is if the mail delivery person spots you doing it, and has a polite word to let you know.

This is in some federal law with some words about the security and integrity of the US mail system, etc.

I found this out from a friend who had been delivering some invitations by dropping them into people’s mailboxes when she was in the area of the addressees. A USPS mail person saw this and stopped her.

Although all this is law, nonetheless I use a post office box as my mailing address, because anyone with an arm can (and does) get at the mail in my old-fashioned mailbox on a busy-ish sidewalk. The police (and the USPS) aren’t exactly posting guard on it.

[4horses]

I think it’s a law that is very loosely enforced. But you could leave a note on someone’s gate. Or tape a note to an empty cardboard box and drop it over the fence. I don’t know that anyone is going to chase you down and arrest you for leaving a note in the mailbox.

[skydy]

You may not get caught, but it’s not good to advise people to break the law.

[Texarkana]

Funny story:

A friend’s teenaged child received some traffic citations recently. It was from an accident, so they weren’t issued immediately; the officer had to do it after all the statements were taken. The officer had X number of days to deliver them to driver.

I guess the officer got behind on his paperwork and just plunked them in my friend’s mailbox without even an envelope.

My friend was furious. And when she contacted the PD about it, they said it was their protocol and weren’t even aware it was against the law.

So yeah, I think the chances of anyone coming after you for a note in the mailbox are pretty slim if there are LEOs who aren’t aware of the law.

(This isn’t me endorsing the practice)

[ThreeWishes]

I’ve lived in my house for almost 25 years. In that space of time suburbia has a grown-up all around me. Especially where my barn is situated, which is at the back of a cul-de-sac. Beside a bunch of houses that only sit on about maybe less than an acre. About three years ago, someone bought the property completely adjacent to my barnyard and the barn. They let me know they were planning to do a giant Fourth of July firework show. Which is completely in their right so I bought two big tubes of Dormosedan. Posted up in my barn. And waited for the shit to hit the fan. And it did with only one of my horses. It was some kind of crazy I mean Disney like fireworks. And it went on and on and on. I finally marched out there and just explained how traumatic it was to the horses. It’s never been repeated. Because honestly how I explained it to my neighbors was if you really want to have a party again just let me know. I will take my horses offsite. No amount of drugs can quiet the shit show you just put on. And they never did it again.

[Maythehorsebewithme]

@Texarkana

So yeah, I think the chances of anyone coming after you for a note in the mailbox are pretty slim

I think the only time I ever heard of anyone doing anything about putting something other than mail in a mailbox is when someone put political stuff in it.

[Calvincrowe]

Huh…I guess I’m a repeat offender! I’ve left notes and gifts in my neighbor’s mailboxes several times over the year. Our across the street neighbor has an electronic gate so I just put stuff in their gorgeous custom mailbox/stone pillar. Works well. Sorry, USPS.
Another neighbor has dogs. Mean dogs. And a locked gate. I’ve texted a few times, but no response. I left a note in their mailbox about part of our shared fence line. He got back to me ASAP after that. Sometimes it’s the only way to communicate.

Is it illegal? Apparently. But I’ve gotten things that I’ve left at a friend’s house dropped off in my box, because it’s simpler than opening gates, shutting gates, driving to the house, and doing it in reverse.

[Annie10]

@Mardi1

@skydy

…putting notes in other peoples mailboxes is a federal crime.

Have never heard of this.

It’s true. Nothing goes in a mailbox but USPS mail

[bingbingbing]

I agree it shouldn’t be in the article.
I have certainly used my own mailbox many times for things not related to the USPS.
If I was going to put out flyers for say a missing cat, I would put in a front gate, or maybe wrongly (?) outside of the mailbox stuck next to the flag.

[LovieBird]

The postal police will come for you!

[4horses]

When I used to live in West Palm Beach, our neighbor did a big 4th of July Fireworks show every year. They aimed them over my barn roof! Fortunately, my horse at the time was a city horse so no amount of fireworks or sirens would bother her. My current horses all run around the pasture every year during fireworks but they don’t usually self destruct. My boss mare is the most sensitive so she goes and chases everyone around. One of my other mares ignores the drama and finds a spot away from the boss mare to graze in and then the 2 younger horses get chased around in circles.

[OverandOnward]

If you want to put things in someone’s mailbox, just time it for after the mail has already come for the day. Highest likelihood that they will get it.

If they have freshly delivered mail then no harm to leave it.

If they don’t, the daily delivery is still on the way, and your message may or may not be there when the resident finally retrieves their officially delivered mail.

[skydy]

@OverandOnward

If they have freshly delivered mail then no harm to leave it.

No harm? It’s illegal. Just don’t do it. There are other ways to contact your neighbor.

[2DogsFarm]

My gelding - the Herdboss of 3 - occasionally takes everyone on a Forced March around the drylot. But no running & none seem overly bothered.
I’m hoping the heatwave threatened for this week, with 3 days above 90, including Friday discourages some of the “festivity”.
Vain hope, but a girl can dream

[Pico_Banana]

My neighbors who set off fireworks - huge displays and against the law here - are moving! Cue happy dance! I doubt they have moved yet but fingers crossed this is the last year.

[Libby2563]

@skydy

You may not get caught, but it’s not good to advise people to break the law.

Well, this is a little hair-splitty, but she didn’t actually advise anyone to do it. She said SHE has considered doing it.

[steelerino]

It’s Armageddon where I live for like a week around the 4th and new years. It is not my neighbors responsibility to make sure my animals are safe. It happens every year so I plan accordingly.