The State Department of Transportation says now is a good time to repair or replace old or damaged rural mailboxes, just before the ground freezes. Every winter, the DOT receives complaints of snowplows damaging mailboxes. Most of the damage is a result of rusted mailboxes and posts that do not stand up to heavy snow thrown by plows.

Mailboxes with damaged or worn latches should be replaced. Wind and heavy snow can cause a mailbox door to fall open if the latch isn’t working properly. Reflectors posted near mailboxes and driveways should be blue or clear and posted at least 12 feet from the outside edge of the shoulder and no more than five feet above the ground. The DOT says ornamental displays should not be attached to mailboxes because they add weight and do not leave enough room for maintenance and plowing.