According to the Desert News in Utah, a Vernal man was arrested and “charged with disorderly conduct after police say he caused alarm when he paid for a disputed medical bill in pennies.”
“On May 27, Jason West went to Basin Clinic prepared to dispute an outstanding bill, according to Assistant Vernal Police Chief Keith Campbell. West, 38, apparently did not believe he owed the clinic the $25 it said he did.”
“After asking if they accepted cash, West dumped 2,500 pennies onto the counter and demanded that they count it,” Campbell said. “The pennies were strewn about the counter and the floor.”
The incident upset clinic staff, said Campbell, adding that West’s behavior served “no legitimate purpose.” He faces a fine of up to $140.
I thought the pennies were legal tender ?
Maybe the clinic staff should have been questioned to provide valid reasons why they refused to accept legal tender ?
Maybe the clinic staff should give advance notice that pennies are not recognised as legal tender ?
Maybe the clinic staff should be cautioonefd for being too lazy to count legal tender ?
Maybe the clinic staff needed to lighten up and have a good laugh at a joke ?
LOL, maybe they can’t count that high!
Perhaps some people are more equal than others and as they say it’s who you know that counts .
The law should be fair and balanced or maybe the law is as good as the one that interprets the law and makes arbitrary decisions.
Those that enforce the law should exercise discretion.
Money is money.
When is money not money ?
Those that enforce the law should be seen to be impartial and should guard with jealousy their privilege of exercising discretionary powers.
This world would be a better a place if people could get along instead of wasting the tax payers money by pressing the panic button every time someone steps on their toes .
The man paid his bill. They should have said thank you and let him leave.
I’ll bet he’d be happy to pay the fine just for entertainment value of the situation. How much is it costing the police and court system to go after such a petty situation?
Having been involved with medical billing dispustes, I’ll happily contribute to the “Jason West Legal Fund” The man is a hero!
OK, don’t know the full details, but what a pathetic attitude from the Basin Clinic (not the best of reviews by the way), and as for the police, WOW, they must have so little to do down there. Makes me want to check out the Vernal doughnut bars and get an interview on appropriate law enforcement.
I think we should start to collect our pennies (which are legal tender for paying any size of bill) and get this guy of the hook.