Mailboxes Knocked Over From Heavy Snow

Last updated on Thursday, January 3, 2013

(BEDFORD) - County Highway Superintendent David Holmes says roads are getting narrower and there is just no where to push the snow.

In Lawrence County, Holmes received reports of about 20 mailboxes knocked over.

But the problem is not limited to just Lawrence County, across the state officials have received similar complaints.

Holmes says the problem is not the snow plow drivers hitting the mailboxes - the heavy snow is the culprit.

Commissioner Bill Spreen, who deals with crews plowing snow, says the county will take responsibility if a driver hits the mailbox, but if the mailbox will not withstand the snow coming off the blade, that is not the county's fault.

Commissioners Dave Flinn and Chris May concur with Spreen.

Holmes says when a driver hits a mailbox with the blade they immediately report it to their respective foremen.

Other Central Indiana residents have complained about their mailboxes getting damaged by snow plows or the recent plowing.

In Johnson County, about 40 people called the Highway Department to sound off.
Johnson County Highway Director Luke Mastin says property can be damaged during plowing, but 40 calls is high for a single storm event.

He said the County will pay for or fix the damaged mailbox as long as there is evidence that a plow truck actually touched it.

Otherwise, the resident is out of luck, because the County is not responsible for any damages the snow may cause.

Mastin says the plow and the truck do not make contact with the mailbox, but a mailbox is knocked down or over from the snow that comes off of the plow. In those situations, the Johnson County does not reimburse the property owner for those damages.

In Indianapolis, there are no exceptions. According to Department of Public Work's spokeswoman Lesley Malone, the City will pick up the cost to fix a resident's property as long as the damage was a result of their actions.

A resident should simply call the Mayor's Action Hotline and then an inspector will come out to investigate the scene, she explained. A result could take up to 90 days to be determined.

Mastin says the best way for homeowners to prepare is to check their mailbox post for any rotting. A good post should survive a season, he says.