Break-away bracket and spike

A break-away post mounting system, comprising:

• a spike with a top and a bottom;
• a rectilinear first mounting plate affixed to the top of the spike, said first mounting plate comprising four sides, each side with a slot with two edges extending for a length through the first mounting plate and extending inward from a corresponding side, wherein two edges are parallel for a majority of the length of each slot;
• a post mounting bracket with an upper end and a lower end, the upper end comprising a hollow post fastening section with an outer perimeter with an open end adapted to receive a lower end of a post, and the lower end comprising a second mounting plate with four flanges extending beyond the outer perimeter of the upper end, each of said flanges comprising a hole or slot extending therethrough;
• a plurality of break-away nut-and-bolt fasteners, each fastener comprising a nut, and corresponding bolt, said bolt with a first end and a second end and a length therebetween, the first end comprising a bolt head and the second end configured to receive a corresponding nut, wherein the length therebetween is threaded and of constant diameter;
• wherein the second mounting plate is configured to be directly attached to the first mounting plate with no space therebetween by insertion of each bolt into a corresponding slot of the first mounting plate with the bolt head positioned below the first mounting plate opposite the second mounting plate, and through a corresponding hole or slot of the second mounting plate, with the corresponding nut fastened on the second end of the corresponding bolt;
• further wherein the break-away fasteners are configured to break at a first level of force, wherein the first level of force is insufficient to bend, distort or damage the spike, first mounting plate, or post mounting bracket.