Stop marking US dollar bills????

Question

I am pretty sure, that we all have seen a marked US dollar bill. US dollar bills are marked and written on, in many ways. People stamp US dollar bills, so they can be tracked online @ wheresgeorge.com. Is there anything, that can stop people from marking US dollar bills? If yes, what? What is your opinion, about some people marking US dollar bills? Is it impossible to be caught, marking a US dolar bill? What is your opinion about this topic?

I am not bothered by this question, but I am curious to know the real answer.

Answer 1

I really dont care as long as they dont deface it to the point it no longer could be used as legal tender. and no, you couldnt get caught unless someone actually saw you, part of why its so hard to prosecute.

And yes, it actually is a crime to deface anything except a penny. (pennys actually are not legal tender and anyone can refuse to accept them for monetary compensation).

And though its illegal, nobody seems to care much. I mean, its the secret services job (believe it or not, they dont just serve the president) to enforce laws about and protecting the legal tender of our country. What do they care more about. the guy down at 7:11 marking a 20 because hes to dumb to look for the 3 major security checks, (all bills above $1 have not only the microprinting, but the blue/red fibers, an embedded strip that says *amount* usa *flag* across it, and a watermark of the face of whom is on the bill), or the guy in a cave in cuba printing out millions of counterfits a day?

Its impossible to trace to who marked it because there is no unique id to the pens people use as is with guns, and dna testing wouldnt be feasable on something handled by thousands of people in its lifetime. Heck, its handled a few times before it even gets out of the minting stations.

Answer 2

Marked Dollar Bills

Answer 3

I'm not sure why you're making a big deal out of this. Marking a dollar bill is technically defacement, but so long as the currency is recognized and valid, there's really no problem.

Also note that a $1 bill has a life of roughly 6 weeks on average (never mind that you ocasionally find a note minted in 1985), since the Fed destroys millions in worn-out currency every week and supplants it with newly-minted bills.

If someone wants to deface their money, that's their prerogative. If they get upset that the fully-defaced $10 bill won't be accepted at a Git'n'Go, that's their problem. Dollar bills are legal tender, defaced or not.

Answer 4

Sure people mark up dollar bills but why would the government bother since The Bureau of Engraving and Printing says the "average life" of a $1 bill in circulation is 21 months before it is replaced due to wear. It is virtually impossible to get caught marking up dollar bills because the governments ability to actually prove that the dollar you have was not defaced before you got it is virtually impossible. Having defaced money is not a crime it's the act of defacing the currency that makes the crime. Unless you video tape yourself defacing the currency and mail it to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing you are probably in the clear.

Answer 5

Some reasons why the dollars are marked is the make sure their not fake. There's a special marker that if it turns brown then the dollar is real. However people writing on them, I think, is a disgrace, like peoples phone numbers and such is rediculious. I have never caught someone writing on a bill but I know if I did I would hand them a normal piece of paper to write on.

Answer 6

I have had a email many times that shows how the folding of that $20 bill is done. I was shocked its eerie to say the least. I have also had another that questions 9 /11 I hate to say it but it does make sense. The horror of it all is that so many people died we where on holidays about to go to bed when it appeared on the news. So I did see it live when it happened so I'm not sure what to make of those emails I have had

Answer 7

I don't really think its a big deal. Where's george and sites like that are just something that people invented to pass time. technically it's illegal to write on money, but it really isn't a significant problem. Businesses still accept money that's written on. Most aren't too concerned with counterfeit because the gov't is doing a great job at changing money often enough to discourage most counterfeiters anyway.

Answer 8

Is it illegal to mark a bill ie: wheres george? I must admit, I am guilty of participating in wheresgeorge.com and I find it fascinating.

If the government wanted to stop this, all they would have to do is go to court and get the subscriber information for wheresgeorge.com.

Can I ask why this borthers you?

Answer 9

OK. I'm not in/from the US. Is there a problem with marking bills? Just curious.

Answer 10

as long as it doesn't change the value of it, why would it matter what is written on it? I myself have never written anything on a dollar bill, but i have read a few things that made me laugh. and, to that person who broke the law and wrote on the dollar bill, Thanks for making my day just a little bit brighter. :)