Long Island, Ny, Usa. I Advertise My Business By Placing Fliers In Mail Boxes. Post Office Tells Me To Stop Because Its Illegal To Place Them In Mail Boxes Without A Postmark. I’m Confused Because Post Office Doesn’t Buy Or Own The Mail Box, Mail Box Is On Private Property, I'm Delivering Myself I'm Not Asking Them To Deliver It For Free. Post Master Tells Me If I Continue He Will Charge Me For Postage For Each Flier Found In Mail Box By Mail Man. If I Refuse To Pay Can Legal Action Be Taken Against Me? Please Help! Thank You.

This is not something I am not familiar with. I know in the Uk, it's not illegal. But I cannot comment on the USA.

Crankie, Fredg do you know?

Hi, bigjack,
I don't live in NY, but in VA.
Do these places where you wish to put your advertising flyers have paper boxes? Such as for the morning or evening newspapers?
Some in our area use newspaper boxes to place their flyers, and apparantely is not illegal.
My guess is that the Post Office can take legal action against you, cause it's Federal.
Best of luck.

Well I have just learnt something new. I am full of so much more knowledge since joining this site. It's great!

Yes, it is a US Postal regulation.

Here are the regulations (http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:DwA-ci6zRhcJ:pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/D041.htm+us+postal+regulations+%22mail+receptacles %22&hl=en).

Man I used to stick flyers and avon mags in peoples mailboxes all the time. I guess it depends on if they see you do it or something. I didn't know it was illegal. My bad police officers:p

Man I used to stick flyers and avon mags in peoples mailboxes all the time. I guess it depends on if they see you do it or something. I didnt know it was illegal. My bad police officers:p

Well no one picked you up on it - so maybe it depends what the flyers and mags are for?

I did not look up chapter and verse, but it is against Federal Postal regulations to "tamper" that means to open or put anything into.

( guess those cats I used to put into mail boxes as a kid was illegal in so many ways)

They can charge you with months likely several violations and each mail box would be a separate offense. These are very serious issues and the post office does go after people that do this after they are warned.

Also in many states ( state law) you can not put anything under the wiper blade of cars in parking lots or on the street.

You can put flyers in the box for the news papers, or on the door handle of the home.

So honestly paying the postage would be getting off light if that was all he did to you.

When I was a paper carrier way back about 17 yrs ago I had a mailman tell me that it was against the law to put anything into the mailbox. He said he wouldn't do anything this time. I think he was upset because the people hadn't gotten there mail for a couple days and here I am putting the paper in. I didn't know any better since the paper company told me that's where they wanted it. Technically, even if we the owners have to buy the mailbox, it is still Federal property. BTW, at least in NY where I live, the town or city owns a certain feetage of your property from the street.

I guess we are lucky it hasn't come to having our email charged... yet.

ScottGem agrees: Exactly correct. By law the Postal Service owns the mailbox, even when purchased by the property owner and on their property.


What a farce. That's not to say I am doubting what you are saying, but rather outrage at how any democratic government could do something like this.

Anyone know the laws about this here in Canada?

We have a mail box attached to the brick wall right outside our house's front door. I don't believe the government has any right to own it and to tell me what to do with it. That being said, it is so sad and frustrating that they do.