# Can mailmen tresspass? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061 "2017-07-12T02:43:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pabstist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@pabstist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pabstist)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/1 "2017-07-12T02:43:48Z")
We have a mailbox at the end of our driveway by the roadside. But sometimes if we get something too big for the mailbox, the mailman will walk or drive to our back porch to leave it there. We’ve done the shit to have him leave it at the post office for us to pick up instead, but he ignores our wishes. Our backyard is pretty private, and the back porch and back door face a garage and a fence. The only door to the only bathroom is next to the back door. Sometimes I walk around naked because we have so much privacy. We have a substitute mailman, who is a 20 year old girl. Who is one of my wife’s high school students from a few years ago and she knows me. I don’t want to her to see me naked, but I ain’t changing my life. Walking is one thing, but if he drives… It’s a dirt driveway, so if it’s wet and muddy or snowy he tears it all up and leaves big ruts. If it’s dry he drives way too fast and might run over the dog. Living here for 10 years, we have asked him a number of times to not do this, and even filled out forms at the post office, and spoken to the local post master. Which seems to last about a year. Anyways, we’ve started doing this a few days ago- [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/barrettscary/DSCF0854_zpsdtmxaddk.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/barrettscary/DSCF0854_zpsdtmxaddk.jpg) [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/barrettscary/DSCF0855_zpsjekmykze.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/barrettscary/DSCF0855_zpsjekmykze.jpg) And the guy still just walks around it yesterday, ignoring the sign. WTF? Do mailmen think they are above the law because they have to deliver a box of dog treats and nothing can stop them? Do they just not give a fuck? I was talking to one guy, who pointed out that in some places in 'merica if you walk past a KEEP OUT sign, you may very well see the end of a shotgun. Not that I’d do that, but why ignore the sign? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/2 "2017-07-12T02:50:56Z")
Maybe post a sign specifically directed at the mailman? Something like, “Postman, if a package is too large to put in the mailbox, please leave a notification and take it back to the post office. Please do not attempt to deliver. We will pick it up ourselves.” You do have a right to peaceful enjoyment of your privacy. Maybe the direct approach will help. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/3 "2017-07-12T03:13:08Z")
Call the post office and reiterate what you said here, about returning too large items to them. I had an issue with the mailman forwarding all the mail from our previous address (in our small town) to our new address, even things that weren’t for us. A call to the post office stopped it. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/4 "2017-07-12T16:32:49Z")
Trespassing is pretty clear cut, except there is a carveout for certain folks. Utility workers, law enforcement and firemen in certain situations, and the letter carriers. After all you wouldn’t want them to have to get a warrant to stuff your mailbox full of garbage. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/5 "2017-07-12T16:39:12Z")
At our last house we had the opposite problem. Whenever we would get a package too big for the mailbox or something that needed a signature the carrier would _always_ leave a slip saying that delivery was attempted but no one was home - even when someone was home! Too much effort to haul his ass out of the truck and walk the 50 feet to the front door. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/6 "2017-07-12T16:41:42Z")
Get a post office box and just pick up all your mail since you have so many issues with the standard method of mail delivery. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/7 "2017-07-12T16:41:54Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Maybe post a sign specifically directed at the mailman? Something like, > > “Postman, if a package is too large to put in the mailbox, please leave a notification and take it back to the post office. Please do not attempt to deliver. We will pick it up ourselves.” > > You do have a right to peaceful enjoyment of your privacy. Maybe the direct approach will help. Pretty wordy. How about, “No Letter Carriers Past This Point” > [@Common\_Tater](#): > > Trespassing is pretty clear cut, except there is a carveout for certain folks. Utility workers, law enforcement and firemen in certain situations, and the letter carriers. After all you wouldn’t want them to have to get a warrant to stuff your mailbox full of garbage. But the letter carrier has access to the mailbox. The problem is when they want to stroll past the mailbox to the house. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/8 "2017-07-12T16:46:37Z")
Get a huge mailbox–big enough to hold both letters and parcels. What are you doing about UPS and Fedex deliveries? ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/9 "2017-07-12T16:51:00Z")
**Cochrane** and **Cooking** have the right idea. I can’t see your sign(s) because I can’t get the links to work, but assuming it says something generic like, “Do Not Enter,” I can easily imagine the letter carrier saying, “Well, surely pabsist wants whatever nifty thing is in this package, so he would want me to ignore the sign.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/10 "2017-07-12T17:04:46Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > **Cochrane** and **Cooking** have the right idea. I can’t see your sign(s) because I can’t get the links to work, but assuming it says something generic like, “Do Not Enter,” I can easily imagine the letter carrier saying, “Well, surely pabsist wants whatever nifty thing is in this package, so he would want me to ignore the sign.” Yeah, it says, “Private property. Keep out.” The mailman may assume it doesn’t apply to him. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/11 "2017-07-12T17:07:58Z")
IANAL … I’m not sure trespassing applies to government workers crossing the property line in an official government capacity … someone upthread mentioned police officers … you can put up all the signs you want to, the police can still walk up and knock on your front door … I’m wondering that if you answer your door buck naked in this case, maybe you get cited for indecent exposure … there’s no expectation of privacy … ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/12 "2017-07-12T17:15:59Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > At our last house we had the opposite problem. Whenever we would get a package too big for the mailbox or something that needed a signature the carrier would _always_ leave a slip saying that delivery was attempted but no one was home - even when someone was home! Too much effort to haul his ass out of the truck and walk the 50 feet to the front door. Yes, I’d much prefer having the package left. I cant see those links either but I agree with PastTense: get a bigger or double mailbox. And yes, the postal carrier can do a reasonable amount of “trespassing” in order to get the mail delivered. Third option is to get a mailbox service in town and have all packages delivered to that address. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/13 "2017-07-12T18:26:35Z")
Or do this- calling the post office to discuss your situation and leaving instructions for the carriers on your route really can work. > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Call the post office and reiterate what you said here, about returning too large items to them. I had an issue with the mailman forwarding all the mail from our previous address (in our small town) to our new address, even things that weren’t for us. A call to the post office stopped it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/14 "2017-07-12T18:31:13Z")
> [@pabstist](#): > > We have a substitute mailman, who is a 20 year old girl. Who is one of my wife’s high school students from a few years ago and she knows me. I don’t want to her to see me naked, but I ain’t changing my life. I would think seeing you naked once might be more effective than any sign. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/15 "2017-07-12T18:43:44Z")
If it’s that important just get a PO Box and take down your mailbox. But overall I think talking to the postmaster once a year isn’t that unreasonable. Like others have said, most people want packages delivered to their home. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/16 "2017-07-12T18:44:05Z")
I honestly don’t think your expectations are reasonable. The far more common complaint is that a mailman will _not_ bother to get out and walk up to the house to leave a package that won’t fit in the box. I think the great majority of people who send packages to their home address that won’t fit in the mailbox would expect the mailman to walk up and deliver them to the door, and would complain if he _failed_ to do that. If you don’t want packages delivered to your house, why are you mailing them to your house? Get a PO Box and use that address - that’s what PO boxes are for. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/17 "2017-07-12T18:58:35Z")
OP doesn’t want packages that don’t fit in their mailbox (across the street) left at the house. Not quite the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/18 "2017-07-12T19:01:51Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Yeah, it says, “Private property. Keep out.” The mailman may assume it doesn’t apply to him. Especially since it’s his job to deliver the mail to that property. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/19 "2017-07-12T19:44:18Z")
If the mail person was your ex and you had a restraining order and they insisted on doing that you might be able to claim trespass. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061/20 "2017-07-12T20:20:37Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I honestly don’t think your expectations are reasonable. The far more common complaint is that a mailman will _not_ bother to get out and walk up to the house to leave a package that won’t fit in the box. I think the great majority of people who send packages to their home address that won’t fit in the mailbox would expect the mailman to walk up and deliver them to the door, and would complain if he failed to do that. Is that the issue? Maybe I misread, but it sounds like there’s a mailbox out front, but the guy _drives around to the back yard_ to deliver packages. Is there not a front porch? Or at least a front door to leave the package by? Why is this guy purposefully going into your back yard where large(ish) dogs are hanging out and naked residents are visible? Is there no other option? I feel like I’m missing part of the story here. Of course there should be no problem with the mailman walking through your front yard to drop off a package at your doorstep, but surely driving ruts into your back yard is a big issue. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mailmen-tresspass/791061.md?page=2)