Nick Stafford and 300,00 pennies. Photo from www.heraldcourier.com.

According to a story in the Bristol Herald Courier, a Virginia man was fed up with the treatment he received from a local Department of Motor Vehicles. He was so fed up infact, that he then paid his DMV fees in pennies. Moral of this story is: you shouldn’t be rude if you work at the DMV.

Here’s the story in a nutshell: Nick Stafford, resident of Virginia and cigarette smoker (according to the Courier), bought a new Corvette for his son last September. Stafford owns homes in two different counties in Virginia. He initially called the local DMV in Lebanon, Virginia, and was automatically routed to a call center in Richmond, Virginia.

Getting nowhere fast, and unable to talk to anyone in a supervisory role at the Lebanon DMV, Stafford submitted a Freedom Of Information Act request to get the direct phone number to the office. A resourceful move to be sure.

Finally getting through to the Lebanon DMV office, Stafford was told that the phone line he was seeking was not meant for public use, and they refused to let him ask his question. He persisted with multiple phone calls, and the office worker there eventually heard and answered his question. By this time, the frustrated Stafford wanted to make a point.

He had requested the direct phone numbers to nine other DMV offices from the Lebanon DMV when they were stone-walling his attempt to get his question answered. Because the Lebanon DMV employees refused to provide those numbers, he felt they were trying to block his effort to get help from the DMV. Stafford took them to court.

The Lebanon Department of Motor Vehicles. Photo from www.yelp.com.

The judge dismissed the case, but Stafford felt that he had made his point. To put icing on the cake and get a full measure of satisfaction, he went to the bank and procured hundreds of rolls of pennies to pay the DMV fees for the Corvette. He hired 11 people, paying them 10 dollars an hour, to break open the penny rolls and empty them into five wheel barrows.

Stafford then happily took the pennies into the Lebanon DMV, and finished his business. As the courier correctly points out, United States coins and currency are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes and dues under the Coinage Act of 1965. However, private businesses, individuals, or organizations do not have to accept coins as payment. The DMV does have to accept the coins.

The bottom line is that Mr. Stafford paid the $1,005 in fees to the DMV by way of 300,000 pennies.He definitely gave them his two cents.