Refusal of payment.

Some friends and I have been having a debate on whethere or not a restaurant can refuse your payment if it's made in the form of lets say...a big bag of pennies. I say they have to take it. Some say they can refuse to do anything because it's a private business(they dont know about the Civil Rights Act I guess). Some say they can make you roll it before paying like a bank does with deposits or exchanges.

Any thoughts?

The Civil Rights Act has nothing whatsoever to do with pennies, rolled or lose. Share your line of thought that would bring you to the conclusion that pennies are even remotely related to Civil Rights?

The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."


This statute 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.

U.S. Treasury - FAQs: Legal Tender Status of currency