+Snooch and Meme Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Folks, Would it be a bad thing to put a magnetic cache under one of those blue public mailboxes that are on street corners? Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 (edited) First tell us why you would want to. Are you bringing people to a beautiful spot? Is it part of an unusually challenging cache hunt? Or are you placing the cahe there just because you can? Put yourself in the shoes of the finder. Is he going to say "Wow, what a nice place!"? or is he going to say "Oh wow, a mailbox"? If its the latter then look for a better spot. Edited February 21, 2005 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+BlueDeuce Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 (edited) What briansnat said. And to add, Those things are federal property. Edited February 21, 2005 by BlueDeuce Quote Link to comment
+TeamK-9 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Not only are they federal property, but I'm pretty sure that placing something on one would be considering tampering with federal property and could get you in some trouble with the postal inspectors. Quote Link to comment
Tahosa and Sons Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Sounds like a defunct micro instead of a good virtual. Quote Link to comment
Keystone Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Does anyone remember the anthrax scare here in the US in late 2001? We (the volunteer group) have seen several cases where caches located on a mailbox have led to unpleasant law enforcement interaction. I won't list a cache known to me to be hidden in this manner, absent clear proof of permission to do so. Quote Link to comment
+Escapades Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 We have one hidden under a Fedex style drop box because it is across the street from a cool piece of art and there is nowhere closer to hide a cache. US postal boxes are probably not a good idea with the elevated state of alert...you just never know when the terroist are going to attack a postal box. Mike Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Too many muggles. Ignoring anything else they put these things where there are lots of people and they draw lots more people. The cache would have a short life span even if it didn't cause other issues. Quote Link to comment
+robert Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 please, as a general rule (even if there aren't guidelines specifically stating to do it), avoid: mailboxes police stations post office airports* *definitely off limits and against the guidelines thanks Quote Link to comment
+New England n00b Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Messing with the mail is a federal offense, last I knew. I don't think cops would be very understanding, especially of someone reaching underneath a mailbox in a strange manner. Quote Link to comment
+terri and billy Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Folks, Would it be a bad thing to put a magnetic cache under one of those blue public mailboxes that are on street corners? Yes. Do not do it. Letter carriers are trained to report any out of the ordinary behavor they see near a mailbox and to report any "package" that is found near, on or around a mailbox. A little over 2 years ago, we had to call the bomb squad for a package found in the mailbox with no return address, too much postage and a stain on it. All clues as something isn't right with this picture. As it was, it was a plane part that a contractor was sending back but for a little while it sure was scary. Letter carriers have enough to worry about without giving them more by putting a "package" on a mailbox. Even if the regular carrier for that route has not problem with it, they do take time off and what if they forgot to tell their substitute? What if the postmaster or supervisor is checking the boxes on their route? Bottom line, don't do it! Terri Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Hmmmm...... I definitely wouldn't duct tape an ammo box to the bottom of one. I don't really have a problem with a nano-cache being magnetized to one, however. That being said, it would have to be one cool mailbox. If its a great general location and you really want to show it off, you can probably find another nearby object to stick a micro to. Quote Link to comment
+Prairie Dog Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Remove the mailbox from it's current location. Take it out to some private land in the middle of nowhere. Paint the Mailbox camoflauge and make the entire box the cache container. Name your cache something cool like "Speedy Delivery" or something. Seriously folks. BAD IDEA! Nuff said. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 (edited) I don't really have a problem with a nano-cache being magnetized to one, however. heh. Whether or not you have a problem with is isn't really the issue. I don't think the "sbell111 thought it was okay" defense will hold up in court. And someone mentioned police stations. That's another bad place to place a cache, even if you have permission. Edited February 21, 2005 by Prime Suspect Quote Link to comment
+Mopar Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Sounds like a defunct micro instead of a good virtual. Oh yea, sounds like another outstanding virtual beat down by da man. I go "WOW" every time I pass one. Actually, I go "Wow" twice. "Wow! I can't believe you can get someone to pick up a letter, fly it across the country, and deliver it right to someone else's door for 37 cents!" Followed by: "Wow! People still spent 37 cents and wait 3 days for a letter to be delivered when they could just send an email?" Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 heh. Whether or not you have a problem with is isn't really the issue. I don't think the "sbell111 thought it was okay" defense will hold up in court. ... So its OK for people to give their opinions in a thread, as long as those opinions match your's, huh? I answered the question as it was asked. Please show me the federal law that forbids me from placing a tiny magnetized cache to a mailbox. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 (edited) ...And someone mentioned police stations. That's another bad place to place a cache, even if you have permission. I took a look at the cache you referenced. I don't see a problem with it. Why do you. The cache meets the guidelines and was placed by permission. Edited February 21, 2005 by sbell111 Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I did a quick and dirty search of the code and the only thing I could find that was remotely close to this issue was 18 USC 1705 which states that Whoever willfully or maliciously injures, tears down or destroys any letter box or other receptacle intended or used for the receipt or delivery of mail on any mail route, or breaks open the same, or willfully or maliciously injures, defaces or destroys any mail deposited therein, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years. I don't think that placing one of these on the bottom edge of a mailbox would be forbidden by this law. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 heh. Whether or not you have a problem with is isn't really the issue. I don't think the "sbell111 thought it was okay" defense will hold up in court. ... So its OK for people to give their opinions in a thread, as long as those opinions match your's, huh? I answered the question as it was asked. Please show me the federal law that forbids me from placing a tiny magnetized cache to a mailbox. No, in court, my opinion wouldn't hold any more weight in this matter than yours would. That's kinda the point I was getting at. I do know that people have been fined for posting flyers on mail boxes. It all depends on how strictly the authorities want to interpret the law. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 (edited) It's not about our opinions, its about the law. I don't see how placing a tiny magnet on the bottom of the container could possibly violate the above posted federal code. Edited February 21, 2005 by sbell111 Quote Link to comment
+Markwell Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 (edited) Go ahead in your area and try it. Make sure to leave your name and phone number on each one and if no one calls after a year, I guess you'd be OK. Or - how about seeking permission? Since you guarantee Geocaching.com with each submission that you have adequate permission, head on down to the post office and ask the postmaster if s/he minds. Be sure to tell them the specific mailbox you'll be attaching it to. Edited February 22, 2005 by Markwell Quote Link to comment
+Kit Fox Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 (edited) It's not about our opinions, its about the law. I don't see how placing a tiny magnet on the bottom of the container could possibly violate the above posted federal code. Permission or not, you put other cachers in harm's way when they start searching in and around a mailbox for a micro. Look at it from perspective of the person who has to look for the cache. How would you like it if a cacher gets detained by local law enforcement, because they were looking for your cache in and around a federal mailbox. It may be a new smiley for your stats, but it is shows bad judgement. Edited February 22, 2005 by Kit Fox Quote Link to comment
+Runaround Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Probably falls under Title 18, Section 1705. I recall a local newstory where some teenagers were charged because they put decals for their garage band on mailboxes. I'm sure our resident attorneys could give us more examples. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 The decals fell under 'defacing' in 18 USC 1705. I don't see how a small magnet would be consider defacing, especially if it wasn't visible. I certainly agree that this would be a cache that would require full disclosure on the cache page. Quote Link to comment
+robert Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 I certainly agree that this would be a cache that would require full disclosure on the cache page. why go through all that trouble ? I don't mind those kind of caches but please pick a different location. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 why go through all that trouble ?... Again, my answer was to the question asked in the original post. Quote Link to comment
+nfa Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Folks, Would it be a bad thing to put a magnetic cache under one of those blue public mailboxes that are on street corners? It would be a bad thing if someone finding the cache was arrested for tampering with federal property...it would be a bad thing if the hider was arrested for tampering with federal property...it would be a bad thing if geocaching got more bad publicity due to a questionable hide that could have been placed in a zillion other places instead. There are lots of good places to hide caches, yes, even micros, that don't have the potential for legal entanglements and bad press for geocaching and geocachers...try to find one of those before you stick one on the bottom of a mailbox. nfa-jamie Quote Link to comment
+Nero Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 i see no problem with it at all. one of the first caches i did was like this. it was placed under a mailbox out in front of a court house!! my first cache was a multi where the first wp was under a mailbox near a church, second waypoint that was in a way too busy place went missing and i disabled it. i currently have 2, 1 just recently approved that are under maiboxes. altoids tins with superstrong magnets superguled to them. have not had any complaints and no bomb squad calls. Quote Link to comment
+Ambrosia Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Folks, Would it be a bad thing to put a magnetic cache under one of those blue public mailboxes that are on street corners? It would be a bad thing if someone finding the cache was arrested for tampering with federal property...it would be a bad thing if the hider was arrested for tampering with federal property...it would be a bad thing if geocaching got more bad publicity due to a questionable hide that could have been placed in a zillion other places instead. There are lots of good places to hide caches, yes, even micros, that don't have the potential for legal entanglements and bad press for geocaching and geocachers...try to find one of those before you stick one on the bottom of a mailbox. nfa-jamie My dad has been a mailman for 25 years. He has always said, don't even come CLOSE to messing with a mailbox. 'Nough said. Quote Link to comment
+robert Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 My dad has been a mailman for 25 years letter carrier! Quote Link to comment
+Ambrosia Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 My dad has been a mailman for 25 years letter carrier! P.C. mumbo jumbo! Quote Link to comment
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