Is It Illegal In MT To Put Anything But Mail In The Mailbox?

Imagine putting anything else other than mail in yours or anyone else's mailbox if you are not a mailman.

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At some point's in my life, I would put rent check in a mailbox and just put my name on them and be done with it. Sometimes I would put an item or a set of keys some forgot in a mailbox for safe keeping.

Maybe you've delivered cards or invitations to people that were not home.

Is it actually okay to do that kind of stuff in Montana or anywhere?

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There are certain rules that apply to an official mailbox put forth by The United States Postal Service and they are pretty particular on what someone can put in said mailbox.

At some point they had some concerns on what people were putting into mailboxes around the country, and they had to spell it out in plain text on what was allowed in a mailbox and who was allowed to put it there:

The U.S. Postal Service would like to warn people that only authorized U.S. Postal Service delivery personnel are allowed to place items in a mailbox. By law, a mailbox is intended only for receipt of postage-paid U.S. Mail.

They stipulate that it's a no-no to put any handbills or advertisements in by hand.

Additionally, the Postal Service has received complaints of flyers without paid postage being placed in mailboxes.  Though many may be unaware, it is important to know that this type of activity is illegal by federal law.

There's only one stipulation according to the Post Master.

Newspapers can only go in the mailbox on a non-delivery day. More specifically, Sunday. That's it.

Next time you decide to hand deliver something to a mailbox, maybe just grab a stamp, and drop it in here.

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