Collins Pushes For Exemptions From New USPS Rules In Some Developments

9th District U.S. Representative Doug Collins is introducing legislation he says will ensure some homes and neighborhoods’ mail delivery are not affected by new postal rules.

This week, Collins introduced House Resolution 5750, “The Common Sense Postal Delivery Restoration Act of 2016.”

Collins said recent U.S. Postal Service rules are forcing home developers to tear up already built or permitted neighborhoods in order to install centralized mailboxes, called cluster boxes, so that all the mail for the neighborhood is delivered to one location, instead of individual homes.

He said that in many cases, these developments were eligible for U.S.Postal Service home delivery prior to the rule change.

However, Collins said the Postal Service is now withholding mail delivery from individual mailboxes and forcing individuals to pick up their mail at the local post office until cluster boxes are installed.

The Hall County Republican said that in many cases, the installation of these new and unplanned for cluster boxes would require developers to change plans at their own expense or even take private property from homeowners, as well as construct new sidewalks or roads.

According to Collins, his legislation would exempt developments that had already received the necessary permits or were under construction before the rule took effect, ensuring that residents there can receive mail to their personal mailboxes as planned.

The exemption would apply to houses that were eligible for personal delivery and held the required permits and approvals for construction prior to April 5, 2012.

In introducing the bill, Collins said people have the right to a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer about whether the mail will be brought to your door.

He said the Postal Service should not be able to force developers to change the layout of entire neighborhoods after developers have already received permits and started building, and the Postal Service certainly should not be in the business of implementing rules that force private land to be used at the whim of U.S. Postal Service rules.

Collins said the Postal Service rule change is particularly harmful to senior citizens and others who have physical limitations who may have moved into the neighborhood expecting curbside delivery.