Message from Town of Barre Highway Superintendent Dale Brooks

Snow Removal

The Law Regarding the deposition of snow in highways, shoulders or ditches is as follows:

“Section 1219” of the Vehicle and Traffic Law and Section 214 of the Highway Law of New York State specifically prohibit the placing or leaving of snow, ice or other substances upon any highway, which includes pavement, shoulders and ditches.

As a result, should these practices occur, Police Agencies shall be notified of such occurrences with the intent that summonses will be issued to those responsible.

Any vehicles left on the side of the road will be towed at the owner’s expense because they hamper snow removal.

Pushing snow across highways is illegal and violators could be prosecuted.

Mailboxes

During and after significant snowstorms, highway agencies in the course of plowing receive phone calls regarding damage to mailboxes, either from snowplows directly or from the force of snow being thrown by the plows. If such damage is indeed caused by snow removal, it is not done intentionally but is the unfortunate consequence of snow removal.

As far as the particular agencies replacing damaged mailboxes, it must pointed out that there is no statutory or legal authority which grants a property owner or resident along a public highway any right to place a mailbox in the highway right-of-way.

That the mailbox is on town, county or state right-of-way is a courtesy to the postal service.

Thus, when the necessity of keeping the highway open conflicts with the individual’s reception of the mail, the latter must stand aside. The owner might even be compelled to remove the box under Highway Law #319. From past experience, we have found that plastic mailboxes do not withstand the abuse of snow from plows hitting them and are not recommended.

As a courtesy, the Town of Barre Highway Department will place a temporary box so that a resident can receive mail if their box is damaged by snow removal operations, but we will not replace any “elaborate” mailbox or post. Replacements will be the standard rural route box properly installed per US Postal and Town of Barre standards.

Thank you for your understanding/cooperation in these matters!