County: Plows not responsible for damaged mailboxes

The Flathead County Road Department reminds residents of the possibility of mailboxes being damaged by snow plowing. Mailboxes are considered an encroachment on the county right-of-way. Landowners are responsible for the maintenance and care of their individual mailboxes.

The Flathead County Road Department is not responsible for any damage done to mailboxes during routine snow plowing and maintenance of county roads.

Typically, if the mailbox is not securely attached to the post it will become dislodged by the force of the snow being plowed.

Over time the continued force of the snow on mailboxes will loosen the mailbox from the post. Make sure your mailbox is securely attached to the post. Mailboxes needs to be a minimum of 3 feet from the edge of the driving surface of the roadway.

The County Road Department also reminds residents that private driveways and roads are not allowed to be plowed across a county road. When a private drive or roadway is plowed across a county road there are berms left in the roadway, causing safety concerns for the snow plow and citizens driving on the road.

If the berms are not cleaned up they could become hazardous to the motoring public. If a berm is left in the roadway and there is an accident, then all parties responsible for the berm would be liable.