When I was teen, I got my license at 16 and never drove like that so I guess not everybody does that. I feel bad for the girl that is getting charged with vehicular homicide. She'll have to live with being charged with killing someone (prob her friend). I feel bad for everyone involved (and I don't know them).

Good question Cy.
Apparently the "law" regarding mailboxes is enforced about as much as the law regarding teen drivers and who rides with them in their cars. It is enforced as much as the speed limit is enforced or the driving in the rain without headlights on law.

The parents of that teen driver or their insurance company should be liable for the damage done to the stone around the mailbox.

This is a very sad and tragic accident but at some point teens and their parents need to be held accountable for all of the damage they cause.

While this may be a code violation...it is NOT enforced. I called two years ago, when a large re-enforced mailbox went up on our road and was told "This law in no longer enforced". Nobody ever came out to inspect! My heart and prayers goes out to everyone involved. It is a loss for everyone.

But what defines massive? I didn't see the term immovable. Althought common sense would dictate so. But then again... common sense these days is as inapplicable as the Constitution currently is. Obsolete.

This ordinance is as clear as an IRS ruling. You would think that perhaps it was designed especially for lawyers. And as Normal hinted at.... perhaps they are.

CAP AND TRADE Congress in 2010

The definition of the term "massive" is what ever an attorney convinces a jury it is.

It is ridiculous that people do that. I am sure it is frustrating to find your mail box knocked over but it isn't worth killing over. The roads are dangerous enough without some jacka$$ building boobie traps for drunks and vandals on the side of the road.

-I understand that it is not confirmed whether or not the owner of the stone mailbox in this story actually did reinforce his mailbox but I have met people who bragged about doing so and I think it is very wrong.

5-37. Mailbox Supports. The use of massive supports that, when struck, could damage vehicles
and cause serious injury to vehicle occupants are prohibited. Concrete posts, brick bases,
iron pipes and similar miscellaneous items such as farm equipment or supports filled with
concrete cannot be used for mailbox supports. (Amended 02/25/99)

Can you direct us to that code. I searched Municode and came up with:

Sec. 5-37. Right of entry.
Where it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce the provisions of this code, or where the building official has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in a structure......

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go to fayettecountyga.gov and look under the a-z index for mailboxes.

Thanks!!!
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Anytime.

5-37. Mailbox Supports. The use of massive supports that, when struck, could damage vehiclesand cause serious injury to vehicle occupants are prohibited. Concrete posts, brick bases, iron pipes and similar miscellaneous items such as farm equipment or supports filled with concrete cannot be used for mailbox supports. (Amended 02/25/99)

Okay...I seem to remember something about this ordinance when it was amended. What puzzles me is that this ordinance appears to be extremely vague. I thought the ordinance applied to arterial county roads and even at that, exisiting mailboxes were allowed to remain. Does this code apply to side streets or subdivision streets? I know that on my street there are supports made from stone, block, wooden posts, and steel pipe of which can ALL when struck, could damage vehicles and cause serious injury to vehicle occupants.

I can't think of any support that guarantees a vehicle or occupant won't be damaged or injured. Minimize yes. But prevent? Hmmmmm.....

CAP AND TRADE Congress in 2010

It other counties, it is embedded in their county ordinances not zoning rules. They actually have penalties established for violating that ordinance. Fayette County is kind of "loosy goosy" on the whole thing.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Exactly. After looking at it.... I can understand why perhaps the Marshall's Dept doesn't even go there. I know the state DOT is very stringent on their mailbox regs. But seriously....after reading Fayette County's the whole thing seems "loosy goosy". Hey... where did I hear that already?

CAP AND TRADE Congress in 2010

Hey Heatjam!

Good post. I remember now when this was being worked on. If memory serves me right all existing mailboxes were grandfathered in. Not sure on that.

CAP AND TRADE Congress in 2010

Existing mailboxes were grandfathered in.

Tug

Good grief, her parents can't be there 24/7. I don't know these people and even if you do you should not be judging them. Do you have teenagers? I do. I guide them, educate them, have expectations and consequences for them and point them in the right direction with a prayer. I am not naive enough to assume they are out there following all the rules though. They are teenagers. Their brains tell them they are invincible. Also, maybe the driver didn't know the backseat passenger wasn't wearing her seatbelt.

The one that says 16 year-old drivers don't have other teenagers in the car except family.

Pretty easy to say "Go directly to school, don't pick up your friends" and of course impossible to enforce - unless you follow them, watch them or convince them somehow that obeying the rules is what the kid should do. Not cool, but better than being dead, doncha think?

The accident is a result of a 'prank proof mailbox'. Another poster said so. So you see...it had nothing to do with obeying rules.

CAP AND TRADE Congress in 2010

What in the world is a "prank proof mailbox" and what idiot would have a rule that says they are illegal? Tyrone? Barry Amos?

Read Normal. Maybe that will help you.

CAP AND TRADE Congress in 2010