I Think They’ve Got One Hell Of A Lawsuit Here
The Bureaucratic Machine at work: this is mind-boggling
Tampa, Florida — Meet Joel Chandler, who just paid his $1.00 toll on the Polk Parkway with a $100 bill, he is not allowed to leave unless he provides personal info to the toll taker. The toll taker tells Chandler this is what happens when they get large bills. She says this is what they have to do.
Chandler says to the toll taker, “So I’m being detained?” She says yes sir.
Now, in looking at some of the comments it seems this guy has a habit of suing the Government…but based on the article it seems like the Florida DOT is completely wrong here.
Nanny State, Politics | Mr. Bingley | 
March 7, 2011 7:25 am
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United States currency is legal tender for all debts, public and private. The toll taker was violating Federal law.
He can pay the toll with a hundred,but to get his change
he must wait.They could put up a sign that the change will be mailed to the address of the registered owner of the car,that would probably be legal.
I’m not sure about that, greg. If they tried that on me I’d demand they pay me interest.
I agree 100% Michael. On my last trip coming home from college I had to pay my toll on the Turnpike in nickels and pennies; that was all i had. The toll taker was pissed but tough shit. If they refuse the money the debt is canceled; that’s the law.
In the late 80’s I was in Philly for a conference, so rented a car and zoomed up to The Mountain to see the Clan. Which required a stint on the NJ Turnpike (I’d been in California for almost a decade) and I was a little out of practice on the whole “what do I owe the guy at the exit”. It turned out to be one of those incomprehensible $3.35 type things and, to make the dime, all I had was a nickel and the five pennies. TEN MINUTES LATER, after finger stabbings at the “NO PENNIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE TOLL BOOTH” sign on the toll booth, a lecture, another lecture, punctuated by heavy sighs, implied threats of turning me back onto the Turnpike, like Moses into the Sinai and calling supervisors…I was allowed to go on my miserable way. Accompanied by dire warnings not to repeat said offense on my return trip, or face banishment forever from the Turnpike. My parents were of the “Oh, my God, you DIDN’T?!?!” category.
I was like, “How do you outlaw pennies, when a) you’re the ASSHOLES asking for small change and b) it’s MONEY/SMALL CHANGE…ASSHOLES?”