Legal or Illegal?

illegal. You are technically not allowed to even put something on the outside like a flyer for business

Illegal. Even if it is stamped, if it is not done by the postal employee it is still illegal.

The federal government owns the rights to mail.

It's illegal, but rarely enforced.

It is illegal.

3.1.3 Use for Mail
Except under 3.2.11, Newspaper Receptacle, the receptacles described in 3.1.1 may be used only for matter bearing postage. Other than as permitted by 3.2.10, Delivery of Unstamped Newspapers, or 3.2.11, no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail. [D041.1.3]

This is why you are NOT allowed to put invites in mail boxes...or fliers...a mail carrier CAN take it out and return it.

It's illegal.
This is the answer I found
(the question being 'Is it illegal to put flyers on mailboxes?'):

"Yes it is. I am a postal employee, and I know that any thing put in or attached to the outside of the mailbox including the post is subject to postage. The carriers are to collect a sample of such flyers and estimate the number of flyers that were distributed and turn them in to the postmaster. A letter should be send out to the person creating the flyers asking for the postage. If that fails then it is turned over to the Postal Inspection Service. In one of my old jobs with the Postal Service that is exactly what I did. Usually the carriers do not care to take the effort to collect the flyers or cards that are attached, come up with an estimate of how many were distributed. Usually the Postal Inspection Service has biger things to worry about. However with the Postal Service being so tight for money recently I wouldn't put it past them to require the carriers to collect the a sample of the flyers and get an estimate so postage may be collected.".

The USPS Domestic Mail Manual states that, except for the occasional newspaper, "no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle."

My in laws are both postal carriers. It is illegal.

Yep, illegal to touch anybody else's mailbox.

ETA: Your mailbox is government property. It's for your safety and confidentiality that only you and a postal worker have the legal right to put something in or take something out. Otherwise, there would be no real jurisdiction to prosecute for that letter bomb or that snake or poop prank. If you want to leave something for somebody else or vice versa, get a different box. Your mailbox is your government's way of saying, "This has met all safety and legal standards, so it will not be harmful to you." If that status changes between the time that the mail goes in and when you take it out, then they have a starting point for an investigation. All kinds of things go through the postal system and get filtered out. They even have a standard format for addressing labels. Anything that catches their eye is cause for closer inspection.

Think of it as being a cashier and only you have access to the drawer. You don't want other hands in the pot because you will ultimately be responible for any discrepancy. As soon as something goes awry with your mail, you take aim at the post office. Well, if you encourage others to put their hands into the pot, then you really can't hold one entity responsible. That's how the law works.

ETA (again): to answer your SWH question, R., some people use those cards when tallying responses. They won't necessarily remember that you said it to their faces. If somebody else is counting, then that person won't know that you said it to their faces. It's just like somebody giving you a dedicated phone number to call or person to contact to RSVP. That's just how they keep track. I had a team plan my baby shower. The invitation had a phone number on it for RSVPs. Do you know that I still had so many people call me to RSVP? I just told them to go ahead and call the number on the invitation because that person was keeping up with that list.

It is illegal. But only if your friend wants to turn you in.

no one will ever get shirty about a STAMPED letter going through someone else's mailbox. but an unstamped one? definitely illegal.
probably won't ever get hauled up for that either, but it's seriously not cool.
for the poster who was upset that the government has rights to the mailbox, well, yes. it's a government agency. and a federal crime to tamper with it.
i remember decades ago going round to the mailboxes in my neighborhood distributing flyers for the business i was running. the mailman was very nice about it, but very firm, and made it clear that i got one warning only. i was startled (it honestly hadn't ever occurred to me) but paid attention!
khairete
S.

Yes, it's illegal. If you have an un-stamped letter or card and want to drop it off without using the USPS, drop it inside the door between the screen and storm doors or on their porch. Just don't use the mailbox.

I did it once and found out it is illegal!

Interesting debate... I now have an idea for the neighbor friend my son adores (and we always--weekly--drop off little notes, pics and treasures for her)-- we're going to make her a little 'mailbox' for the porch.

people do it all the time...

but, yes, my understanding is that it is illegal.

If I have to deliver a card I always put it slightly under the door mat so that an end is poking out. Or I wait for the mail carrier to deliver the daily mail, then slip my letter in with it so that it isn't discovered before the daily drop by the USPS.

I wouldn't worry about doing any hard time for this, it happens all the time. At worst the mail carrier will take it and IF you have provided a return address it will be returned you or given to your friend with a postage due notice.

I don't think it's illegal to put a card in someone's mailbox. It is illegal to pull out people's mail though.

I don't believe so. If you put it in there all by yourself, I really don't think so. If you consider those who drive by with some advertising flyer...they're doing the same thing. It's an inexpensive way to get yourself noticed, if you're a company or business just starting out or trying to expand. So what's the difference? The price of postage is on the rise. People find ways to budget.

So dropping it in a friend's mailbox is not illegal. You're not doing it to a multitude of people right? A friend here and there is not a crime. I'm pretty sure of it.

If its a friend or neighbor and u know the post person has come and the neighbor will get it before they come back than it's fine but if you doing flyers in neighbors mail boxes or they won't get it before post person Han yes it is illegal . Most post people won't turn u in but some will

Illegal. Nothing goes into the mailbox but official mail from the postman. If I get a neighbor's mail I either take it to their door, or put with the outgoing mail and let the postman redeliver it.

Wow, never knew it was illegal... Learned something new today :)