Paying a fine in pennies, should it be allowed?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/5239962.stm

Check out the link above:

Answer 1

I think so but unforfunately until the right to refuse to accept anymore than 30 pence in copper as payment is removed.

you have to change them in the bank then take the exchanged denominations of money.

Answer 2

Think about it this way. Do you want to be the guy/girl standing behind him in line when he tries to pay in pennies. You went to pay your fine and get it over with quickly, now this guy is forcing the clerk to count 4,000 pennies. Are you willing to stand there in line for the next 2-3 hours while the clerk is counting out that one person's fine? What if it was the six people in front of you paying that way? Are you willing to wait that long?

I hear you responding with, "So make the clerk wait until after the line is closed at the end of the day to count them all." There are two reasons that won't work. First, they must make sure the person is making a full payment before they accept it and the person may leave. Besides that, are you willing for the government to raise your taxes to pay the overtime required for the clerks to stay several hours extra every day to count the pennies for the many people who would do it just to be difficult?

Just because someone gets a fine, does not mean that everyone else should have to pay for it. Let him pay his fine in the same, every day denominations everyone else uses; he's the one who screwed up in the first place.

Answer 3

The penny is actually not "legal tender." We can thank John D Rockefeller for that. He paid his "back taxes in pennies. It took up 4 train coal cars to deliver payment. Since, it cost more for the govt to pay people to count those pennies then he actually owed; they made an adjustment to the legality of pennies as acceptable forms of payment. The only reason we still use the penny today has to do with gas prices. Ever notice the 9/10 after the price of a gallon of gasoline? The fraction means & 9/10 of a penny. One more way to get an extra penny per gallon of gasoline.

Answer 4

No


He is making it harder for himself as he is going to the bank to change £40 in 4,000 pennies just to make it arkward for the court. If he broke the law he should pay the fine. As the article points out also the court would have to count the pennies which is not what they are paid to do, if they excepted everyone's fines in pennies then people would complain that 'their taxes' are being spent to pay wages so people can count pennies so either way the courts are made out as the bad guys!

The courts are there to do something constuctive not to count pennies from someone who feels he is hard done by! If everyone who felt hard done by, by the courts then they would be spending all their time counting pennies and have no time to actually hold any trails like they are there for!

So to some up no they should not accept the fine in pennies.

Answer 5

It is money, but it's a bit daft seeing as it just takes them ages to count it all again and they should have better things to do than that. If this guy wants to pay in pennies he should at least pay with them already sorted and in bags ... he is just trying to get away with being a pain in the neck because he feels the fine isn't fair.

Answer 6

Pennies are legal tender and must be accepted as such up to the amount of five dollars. If you think the fine was unfair, go ahead and use pennies if it pleases you. Sounds a bit childish to me.

Answer 7

Had someone do that before. Yes you can. But everyone knows that someone that does that thinks they are getting back at the court, when we could care less because ususally the Police or Sheriffs dept are collecting the money. :) And believe me people think they are unique and the first ones to do something, more than likely if you have thought of it so have others.

Answer 8

Only if the fine is 30p or less.

Having worked in retail I can't tell you how bloody annoying it is when some sweet child comes in and spends 50p in coppers when there is a long queue and you have to count it, let alone someone who has obviously got on the wrong side of the judiciary.

So hell, NO!

Answer 9

In Canada pennies do not have to be accepted as legal tender as payment for debt when they are offered in an amount greater than 25 at one time.

Actually there are restriction for all CDN coins. eg: 25 cent piece - 40 ($10.)

Answer 10

First of all the http address is wrong. Fines should not be paid in pennies. Pay them with larger currency, or checks.