U.S. Mail legal question?

[Muss Muggins]

They do here.

Difference between urban and rural . . .

 

[transit]

Trying to think "upstream" here.


Who is the punk's check coming from?

Can he contact them to verify/arrange a receipt/delivery that would be more reassuring to him?

Can he get cash via Western Union, or similar?

Could he have it direct deposited? (I understand that street-people usually don't have accounts.)

What is the position of the mailbox? If it's roadside, I would remove it and post a sign on the post that all delivery had been forwarded to the post office.

I'd probably remove the box and do the rest, wherever it was anyway.

Presenting herself as an ally will probably be easier in the long run.

I completely understand the desire to be otherwise, and to make war. Believe me, I do.

But for one's own peace of mind and comfort, there might be another way.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

The reality beyond the legality is that peeking into someone else's mailbox is no more than a trivial nuisance at best, and is never going to go anywhere in the criminal justice system. Cops know this, which explains why the refrain in these stories usually is that "they didn't do anything."

What makes this even less of a thing from the viewpoint of any legal authority is that everybody seems to agree that the perpetrator has no intention of stealing anything.

So yes, it's technically illegal, but mainly it's an irritation. And in a justice system where real criminals frequently walk, who in his right mind would waste their time on this?

Agreed. De Minimis Non Curat Lex

 

[SAFireman]

He/she will have to go to the post office, ask that the mail be held for pickup at the post office. If/when a check arrives, have them return it as undeliverable (as he does not reside there, do the same with ALL of his mail). Once this fellow realizes that there is no mail arriving, he will soon stop looking. If he is that big of a nuisance, get a criminal trespass warning issued and let the LE doe their thing.

IANAL, but I did drive by a hotel this morning

 

[Absalom]

Just to clarify:

A lot of posters here are suggesting actions which presume that the guy is receiving regular check mailings at this address.

My understanding of Grayfox's story is that there is ONE check, presumed to be enroute, which the guy is waiting for, which he could find in that mailbox any day, and the issue would be moot.

In that case it is worth considering whether turning this lady's postal life upside down and making this a full-time high-stress crusade to not have this guy look in the mailbox once a day is really worth it.

Hardly anything important comes snail mail anymore. I check my mailbox every few days unless I forget, but the rest of the time a family of racoons could be running a roadkill take-out out of mine and I'd never notice.

 

[Grayfox]

Absalom is correct. It is just one check and from what we gather, its a fairly large amount. I've heard the figure $6000 mentioned. No idea who or where its coming from.
I just spoke to my friend. She's going to the PO today and while she's there she's going to talk to the local Postmaster to see if anything can be done.
She also has the direct phone number for the Desk Sergeant at her local precinct and they have discussed the possibility of a Restraining Order. The PD in the area is well aware of the situation.
Anyway, this should all disappear as soon as that damned check shows up. The question is when will that be?

 

[dave1918a2]

When neighbor kids 2 houses up from Me started to remove mail from My mailbox, tear it up, and throw it on the ground, the police would do nothing. Several of Us called the police. Kids were under 10 years and the Police couldn't touch them. Called the post office and the inspectors came out. Said They had to catch them in the act. Took videos of the kids doing it and gave it to the inspectors. The inspectors went Their house and took the parents into custody. Told them is was a 25K fine and 20 years as They were responsible for Their kids. Told Them the kids would go to foster homes. If They didn't stop the kids from doing that. This was in 87 or 88. The family ended up moving as Their house caught on fire. Don't know if the Inspectors were correct, but They scared the bejesus out of the parents and the kids stopped doing that. They just broke into houses instead and tore things up. Until they met a big 10 year old.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

"I'm still getting mail for the little lady that I bought the house from over 8 years ago.

On occasion we still get mail addressed to the people that lived in our house more than 25 years ago. Junk mail, but mail no less. I just chunk it.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[rjroberts]

Is the former 'boarder' been using that address to get their mail?
Is that address on the 'boarders' license? If that 'boarder' can prove residence there or say yes to those questions your friend could be in deep you know what.

That's an important point. I don't know what the law is in the op's state, TN, I believe. But, that is the law in FL, and there have been many cases involving people getting mail at another's house, and able to squat. A PITA legal proceeding is required to get them out. I recognize we're just talking about one piece of mail in this thread, but this person was a "boarder" and might just have it on his license (don't mean to expand the thread). Heads up to the OP, to check local law, and be aware.

 

[dave1918a2]

Just to add. If You let someone move in with You in CO it's not a problem. If You let Them have mail delivered to Them at Your address then They have squatters rights. Tell Them to get a PO box, do not allow Them mail delivery. Lady behind Me did this and ended up having to sell Her house to get rid of Her 'guest' This is real nasty and can cost many, many $'s.

 

[LennyLames]

. . . this idiot is now expecting a check for him to arrive in her mailbox.

"The check's in the mail." Scammers have been using that line since Benjamin Franklin's time.

 

[Muss Muggins]

This article about a prosecution and conviction for stealing mail appeared in the St. Louis Post Dispatch this morning. One year custody and two years supervised release. Pretty typical federal sentence for these types of crimes . . .

Illinois man sentenced for repeatedly stealing mail from homes | Law and order | stltoday.com