They advise buying a gift card from a doller store or gas station…
The bad news is, we are losing money on every fare. The good news is, ridership is down 85%
Who cares? People should be staying at home except for essential travel. Yours is far from essential.
I was a little surprised to see that my local pizza hut intends to start refusing cash. At least that’s what the sign on their door states. I always thought there was a “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private” aspect to be reconned with?
I really lament the loss of privacy that a cashless society would bring about. I hope this pandemic is not the catalyst that makes it happen.
Tin foil hat time, but I read an article yesterday that claims authorities in Russia are now using facial recognition software and public video cams to track down quarantine violaters.
I suppose if someone wanted to raise a stink about merchants and others not accepting cash they could do so, but they’re not likely to make much headway with this emergency going on now.
It’s Federal law after all. Cash is legal tender and has to be accepted if offered, it would take legislation to change that. If I recall correctly Brightline got in a little trouble after opening for not accepting cash payment for fares, and in New York City two, maybe three months ago the city government put out a directive saying merchants had to accept cash if that’s how the customer wanted to pay.
In recent personal experience, I had the car inspected last week, and my local repair shop is practicing “social distancing auto service,” that is, you drop the car off with the key in an envelope which you drop through a slot, and you pay by credit card over the phone. They leave the car in the lot for you to pick up. Annoyed me a little to pay the $20 inspection fee with the card but they’ve been doing our cars for 30 years so I didn’t make a fuss. “This too will pass.”
“I really lament the loss of privacy that a cashless society would bring about. I hope this pandemic is not the catalyst that makes it happen.”
If you file a federal and state tax return, use the internet, cell phone, etc., you have already lost a significant amount of personal privacy.
The IRS knows more about you than you probably imagine. And they have the tools to get even more information.
Using the internet makes it possible for the authorities, with or without proper authorizations, to know what cites you visit, what you buy, when and where it is delivered, etc.
If you have a mobile phone, the authorities can learn who you called, when, what was said, etc. They can also use your phone to track your movements.
The county where I live has a “stay at home” order. Last week I went to the post office, pharmacy, and grocery store. They are separated by an average of 10 to 12 miles. When I got home there was a message on my cell phone. Stay home!
Yesterday I ran the same pattern, but there was no stay home message o
PJS1,
I agree with much of what you just said. And it’s scarey. The way I look at it…going “cashless” would just make the noose that much tighter.
I haven’t had a cell phone in a few years, I’m simply too arrogant to be interrupted is my excuse.
But a couple years ago I had one, and was sitting out in a public park in an isolated area that regular traffic lanes could not get close to. My cell phone was in my front pants pocket. Unknown to me at the time, my car keys had ‘buttdialed’ 911.
There I am sitting on that remote bench, not a care in the world, and then I spot (from afar) a squad car from the local police dept prowling down the adjacent bike path.
Pulls right up to me and asks “are you Mr XXXX?” using my proper name.
They were concerned that I might be in distress…which after I thought about the dynamics of the whole thing…I was…
Thanks! You just made my day. It is dreary in central TX, and I am indoors. I am chuckling at your experience. Have a good day!
The courts disagrees with you.
“[The Coinage Act of 1965] means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.”
Well, I guess that it’s Pizza Hut’s loss. It’s not like there is a dearth of alternatives.
Papadias here I come!! [dinner]
I never have understood why people are so in love with cash. There are too many perks using a card with some sort of reward program to not use it. I have not paid for an airline ticket in years, and fly first class for my flights. I use my airline branded credit card for everything. I guess maybe it is because the tinfoil in my house is used for food prep, and not headwear.
Keep in mind that this says nothing about merchants demanding, as they effectively are by ‘refusing’ general cash, that the coins and bills be cleaned and effectively sterilized before they ‘have’ to accept it. You couldn’t wipe your tail with a one-dollar bill and then insist they accept that particular ‘tender’; they might ‘have’ to take that particular note but not until you removed anything not required as legal tender from it. Now it’s gotten to where offering money with a bare hand that hasn’t been washed is in, essentially, the same category. And dirty cash offered with a clean hand is like a cup of sewage in a barrel of wine in the old adage…
Well, you are certainly entitled to your personal preferences. Thankfully we are not all compelled to share them.
For now. With how dirty money is, don’t be suprised to see a backlash against it after this is all said and done.
Sometimes there is a tangible value in being a “nobody”. Cash affords added flexibility to someone wishing to be so.
Someday I might aspire to be a nobody. Anticipating that possibility, keeping all options open seems worthwhile. [oX)]
Thank you for a factual post.
Very good post indeed. I didn’t know any of that.
Ever hear this old one?
“Do you wash your hands after handling money?”
“No, what for?”
“Germs could be living on that money!”
“Man, nothin’ can live on the money I make!”
Went to Vegas in 1984 - woke up one moring about 3 AM (6 AM on ET body clock) and I couldn’t get back to sleep. Had about 3 or 4 dollars of ‘pocket change’. Went downstairs to the lobby (casino) of the hotel - played the slots of various denominations until about 7 AM Vegas time when I finally went broke - MY HANDS WERE FILTHY!
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/29/europe/russia-coronavirus-authoritarian-tech-intl/index.html
Boy, one credit card transaction, one cell phone call, and one fleeting mug shot in a public “safety” zone,…and these goons can own you.
I used to scoff at the pervasiveness and degree of integration of the system portrayed on the TV show “Person of Interest”. Now I’m not so sure.
It’s an easy sell on the premise of “public safety”, right? Until, that is, someone decides to repurpose the system.