Last time I checked, cash, in US dollars, was a form of legal tender in the United States, but in Rockford, that is not always the case. Especially when it comes to government.

Local State Senator Steve Stadelman relayed a story on his Facebook page about a constituent's son who was recently arrested for a non-violent traffic offense in Winnebago County

When the man arrived at the Winnebago County Juvenile Center to bail out his son, the credit card machine at the center was broken and the man could not pay because they don't take cash payments.

Bill to Allow Cash payments to the State passes in the Illinois Senate
Sen Steve Stadelman via senatorstadelman.com
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According to Stadelman:

Because of a technology malfunction, his son was forced to sit in the juvenile center the entire weekend – significantly longer than the law requires, paid for by taxpayer dollars.

Really, when did cash become illegal?  It's bad enough that you can't pay cash at the Walmart gas station on E. State Street, but a government agency refusing to take US currency? Give me a break.

So, not did the kid have to sit in jail unnecessarily, but taxpayers were forced to pay the bill to incarcerate a kid for a simple traffic offense for three days because the Winnebago County did not maintain their credit card machine.

The good news is that Illinois might finally get it's act together.

Sen. Stadelman announced that he introduced a measure through the Illinois Senate that would require law enforcement officials to accept cash as an alternative payment.

This seems like something that should have been in place before, but then again it's Illinois we are talking about.

The measure passed 56-0 and will now head to the Illinois House. Thank you Sen Stadelman, lets hope the bill becomes law, soon.

Next up, can we work on the Walmart gas station thingy?

 

 

 

 

 

n.

 

 

was a legalYo can use

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