From: "Michael Painter"
Newsgroups: aus.electronics,aus.radio.amateur.misc,comp.arch.embedded,sci.electronics.design
References: <3e018f03@cpns1.saic.com> <3e020cd4$1_5@news.teranews.com> <3e043807$3_3@news.teranews.com> <3e04bb5b$1_4@news.teranews.com> <3E04D993.5168868C@mfi.net> <3E04F868.892F5BF5@yahoo.com> <3E053259.4BEE4229@mfi.net> <3e0a39f6$1_7@news.teranews.com>
Subject: Re: US Mailboxes
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Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 00:28:13 GMT
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NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 00:28:13 GMT
Organization: AT&T Worldnet
"Zefram Cochrane" wrote in message
news:3e0a39f6$1_7@news.teranews.com...
>
> "Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
>
> > My mail is usually picked up within 2 minutes of the delivery for
> > just that reason. The box is at the end of my driveway and if I don't
> > hear the mail truck, my retired father sees it, and goes to get it.
>
> Why DO the USAns have mailboxes so far from their houses ? I've
> never understood this. Other than in really rural areas with people
hanging
> some plastic horizontal drainpipe from their gate, the practice of having
> a open-to-anybody mailbox so far from the house is unknown here.
That's generally the case here. The mailbox will be placed as near to the
house as possible but on a public road.
>
> Is it allowed to lock a mailbox (assuming the recipient provides the
> lock and is OK about giving a key on request to the mail person) ?
Probably not. There are lot of regulations that determine the size and
placement. They would have to have the key, then the keys, then several
hundred and this would soon cause problems.
They don't have to deliver it if the rules are broken.
>
> > rednecks would get drunk on Friday and Saturday night, then drive along
> > country roads with a baseball bat smashing every mailbox in sight.
>
> What's a redneck ? Yes, well obviously I can understand from the context,
> but what makes the neck red ? Are they ex-soldiers with additives
> added to their blood to make them stay awake longer ?
It probably stems from the sunburned necks of menial laborers.
Now it means poorly educated and usually extremely conservative.
>
> > plate for the top, bottom, and door. Let one of the morons hit that,
> > and he would probably break his wrist! :)
>
> Do that here, and you'd be indicted/sued for assault ! Yep, really.
>
A civil action could probably be brought in such a case but it does not fit
the definition of assualt (essentially the threat) or battery (the actula
action) here in the US.