‘I called 43 times yesterday’, owner fumes over 5-year battle to keep drivers off his lawn – repairs cost $100

A frustrated homeowner seeks answers about a mail carrier who caused $500 in property damage when he entered his property.

The postman was caught driving on the sidewalk and claimed it was for “security” reasons.

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Benny Hunt, a homeowner in Waterford, Michigan, has struggled with the arrogance of a mail carrier who persistently uses his property and the sidewalk along the property line to deliver mail.

Desperate to put an end to the persistent destruction of his property, Hunt filed police reports, filed multiple complaints with the USPS, and even confronted the driver.

He placed high-visibility cones to block the usual path the mail truck takes to access the mailbox.

Hunt even moved the mailbox to a different location to divert it.

Nothing helped.

“I literally have the best lawn on the block, so it hurts when I see someone walking across it!” he told the ABC affiliate W X Y Z reporter Sarah Michals.

The tire manufacturers destroyed their lights and caused $500 in damage, according to their most recent estimate, for which no one will be held accountable.

“I have an estimate of $500 in damage,” he said.

“They ran over three or four solar lamps and destroyed them. Four or five different American flags and they destroyed them,” Hunt said.

Hunt told Michals that he had already spoken to the mail carrier about the damage, and the mail carrier stated he did it for personal safety.

“It’s a ‘security risk,'” he said.

Hunt’s wife, he said, made separate complaints to the local USPS office, as well as police reports, and nothing happened.

When Hunt moved his mailbox closer to the road, he said the mail stopped arriving.

“They say it’s a security risk for the carrier that delivers my mail,” Hunt recalled.

“They refuse to deliver my mail.”

This is despite some of his neighbors’ mailboxes being equally close to the road.

I still don’t have any correspondence. This is what I’ve been dealing with for five years, round and round.

Benny Hunt, owner

While Michals and Hunt were talking, another mail carrier appeared on the sidewalk to deliver his neighbor’s mail.

Michals approached the mailman, but they refused to answer his questions.

The day before, Hunt said his multiple attempts to contact him went unanswered.

“I called 43 times yesterday and no response,” Hunt said.

Michals contacted the USPS office, even visiting their website, to later receive a written statement in his email.

Michigan law against blocked sidewalks

The exact legal parameters depend on state and local laws, but many states do not allow obstructing sidewalks.

There are a few reasons why it is generally illegal to block sidewalks.

1. Blocks ADA access for wheelchairs, walkers, or residents using canes.
2. It forces vulnerable populations (people with disabilities, parents with strollers, young children, or people with pets) to walk into the street, putting them at greater risk of being struck by a passing vehicle.
3. Blocks or inhibits access by emergency vehicles.

In Michigan, for example, Vehicle Code 257.674 prohibits the blocking of sidewalks statewide.

“A vehicle shall not be parked, except as necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in accordance with the law or the instructions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following locations: (a) On a sidewalk. (b) In front of a public or private driveway (c) Within an intersection (d) Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

Source: Michigan Legislature

“The Post Office will contact the customer to resolve any delivery issues. Correios apologizes for the inconvenience this caused the customer,” the statement said.

Michals asked the local police station if it was legal for the mail carrier to do this – and they responded by saying it was generally not allowed, even for the USPS.

Despite the statement, Hunt and the USPS are at an impasse.

“I still don’t have any correspondence,” he said, frustrated.

“This is what I’ve been dealing with for five years, round and round.”

The US Sun has reached out to the USPS for comment.