Washtenaw Road Commission Reminds Homeowners to Check Mailboxes During Annual 'Shake Your Mailbox Day'

Editor's note: This press release was submitted by the Road Commission.

The Washtenaw County Road Commission is asking residents to prepare for winter by shaking their mailboxes. 

Gov. Rick Snyder has declared Oct. 20, the fourth annual ‘Shake Your Mailbox Day’ in Michigan. Shake Your Mailbox Day is a cooperative effort of road commissions across the state and the U.S. Postal Service.

"Many homeowners have started the practice of changing batteries in smoke detectors when clocks are changed for daylight savings time,” Eric Wilson, chairman of the Road Commission for Oakland County, said in a press release. “In the same manner, Shake Your Mailbox Day reminds homeowners whose mailboxes are on posts adjacent to the road to prepare their mailboxes for winter.”

Shake Your Mailbox Day started in 2008 as the innovative idea of one county frustrated by residents’ complaints of damaged mailboxes after roads were cleared following heavy snow storms. The County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM) and the U.S. Postal Service joined forces in 2009 for a statewide campaign.

“In most cases, the snowplow doesn’t actually hit the mailbox,” Wilson said. “The force of snow thrown from the roadway can be enough to knock down a loose mailbox. Damage to these posts and receptacles can be prevented by proper routine maintenance.”

Although the Washtenaw County Road Commission  has a policy in place regarding replacement of mailboxes that have clearly been hit by a snowplow, road agencies have never assumed responsibility for mailbox damage caused by standard snow-removal operations.

Taking time to tighten screws and secure mail receptacles now can prevent problems later. If the mailbox moves when shaken, the mailbox and/or post may not withstand standard snow removal operations and should be repaired or replaced prior to the onset of winter.

The U.S. Postal Service is reminding residents that this is also a good time to replace loose hinges on the mailbox door and to replace or add reflective house numbers to allow postal workers and emergency responders to easily find your home. 

Mailboxes are one of the only objects allowed by law to be placed in the road right of way. The location and construction of mailboxes must conform to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Postal Service and standards established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

For more information on Shake Your Mailbox Day, call the Washtenaw County Road Commission at 734-761-1500.