Mail boxes damaged

Posted by 57boy (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Correct me if I'm wrong....is'nt that a federal offense????
Just wondering........

Posted by scurvydog (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe you are correct, 57boy.

And as such, they should be charged - juvenile or not. I'm not saying they should be sent away for a long time, but if it is a federal charge there should at least be a huge fine or large amount of community service.

Perhaps 100 hours each of walking and cleaning ditches?

Posted by 57boy (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

And replacing the mailboxes that they damaged!!!!

Posted by dean (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes, those juvenils made a poor choice, I bet their parents will make them apologize and replace the mail boxes. Not all of our teenagers in albert lea are bad kids. Most of us adults have made poor choices and have learned a valuable lesson, let's hope the juvenils have learned.

Posted by Jake (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Think of how lucky we are to live in a place where the Monday morning crime headline reads, "Juveniles damage mailboxes."

Posted by observer (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It is a federal offense, I had a relative that made a poor choice to have this same fun when he was in high school and got caught. Their punishment was replace the mailboxes and community service (county had just resurfaced 7 miles of road and they had to hand broom the entire stretch after school every day until done).

Posted by dean (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We do live in a small town with not many bad things happening. So, if mail boxes damaged by teens is the headline maybe the teens in our town just made a poor choice.

Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Our rural plow truck driver tears our mailbox down all the time, removing snow in the winter, with no regard. Guess it is OK to damage property of citizens who pay for this service with property taxes.

Posted by scurvydog (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Just making a poor choice" does not excuse vandalism. Usually, that excuse comes out after one has been caught doing something they already knew better than to do. Nobody honestly believes this is acceptable behavior.

Small town or not, there has to be some accountability. Perhpas not getting sent to juvenile prison, but there has to be some kind of punishment, if for no other reason than to make good for the "poor choice" and to deter future "poor choices".

As far as snow plows go, I don't understand why they aren't held accountable for damages to mailboxes. I know they claim responsibility if the plow hits it, but not if the snow causes the damage. I know people whose mailboxes have been damaged during plowing - but it has always been caused by the snow, according to the one doing the plowing.

Posted by snowbird (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Our rural plows do hit or tear down boxes all winter long but that is the price we pay for not living where there are sidwalks to shovel. They can't stop & go around each box. These kids did this on purpose just for fun and that is not acceptable to anyone. The parents are responsible for the acts of their children so a hefty fine to get their attention and some community service where people can see them working for the teens. Like you said basically our young people are good but there always has to be a few bad ones that get the attention. The names should be printed in the paper, too so everyone will know who has done this.

Posted by Foolish (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Get over it with the snowplow trucks!! They are doing a job! I suppose that if they were to stop and go around the mail boxes you would write on here how the county plows are doing a crappy job plowing the snow. Have you ever been in a plow truck or ever pushed snow? Maybe you should take a ride on snowy icey day and see how well you do. Just a thought.

Why don't you get the new set up for rural mail boxes so when the plow comes by your mail box will swing around? Also if you don't like maintaining your mailbox then you can always rent a PO Box at the post office. Just an ideal.

Posted by snowbird (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was not running down the snowplows I was just stating a fact. I think they do a great job. Just because something is said in this column most people think it is against everything. I was being nice by saying they can't go around every box not negative like you.

Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, our snowplow driver does do a crappy job and other neighbors have noted this at township meetings. He also does a bad job grading the roads in the summer. The price of speaking up is more neglect, but what can you do when the plow driver is on the board. But consider this - he does not have to go around my mailbox. it is enough out of the way. What else is he going to hit?