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From: dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.legal
Subject: Legality of refusing to accept bills greater than $20
Message-ID: <3064@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 8-Jan-84 10:42:25 EST
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.3064
Posted: Sun Jan  8 10:42:25 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Jan-84 11:32:54 EST
References: <2361@rabbit.UUCP>
Organization: The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto
Lines: 41

--	From: ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig):
--   "Sorry, we cannot accept anything over a $20 bill without a picture ID"
--   
--   Apparently these people are unaware of the concept of legal tender.
--   It is ILLEGAL to refuse to accept cash for any purchase.  I suggest
--   that if you really want to make a scene, you buy $90 worth of books,
--   present them with a $100 bill, refuse to give identification, and,
--   if they refuse to accept the bill, call the police.

I don't know much about U.S. law, but it would surprise me to
find out that it is "illegal" to refuse to accept cash, or that
you could get anywhere by calling the police.

Under basic contract law, you go to the counter and offer to purchase
the books. The cashier accepts on behalf of the store, subject to the
clear posted sign that bills over $20 must be accompanied by photo ID.
Your contract is now: you will pay in cash of bills no larger than $20
(or whatever else the store accepts, such as a credit card), and the
store will, in consideration therefor, give you possession of and title
to the book. If you try to pay with a $100 bill, I don't think you're
honouring your part of the contract.

Even if there were no sign, I can't imagine that the police could/would
do anything. At worst, the store is in breach of contract, and you can
sue it. (Note the important distinction between a civil lawsuit and a
criminal prosecution. The police have nothing to do with lawsuits.)
Even then, I can't imagine what your damages would be.

We live in a free country, and anyone can sell whatever he wants to
whomever he wants. The only exceptions I can think of in the case of
something like a bookstore are human rights laws, which do make it a
*criminal* offense - the concern of the state - to refuse service to
someone on the grounds of race, colour, sex, age, physical handicaps,
etc.


Dave Sherman
The Law Society of Upper Canada
Toronto
-- 
 {allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsrgv!dave