Adelaide Man's Petty Cash Stunt Fails as Council Denies Five-Cent Coin Payment

An Adelaide man attempted to pay a $60 parking fine with 1200 five-cent coins, invoking legal tender laws. However, the Reserve Bank of Australia limits coin payments: up to 20 cents for 1 and 2-cent coins, up to $5 for 5, 10, 20, and 50-cent coins, and up to ten times the face value for $1 and $2 coins. The Adelaide City Council declined the payment, and the man left without acknowledging the outstanding fine.

Adelaide Man's Petty Cash Stunt Backfires as Council Denies Five-Cent Coin Payment

In a defiant display of frustration, an Adelaide man attempted to settle a $60 parking fine with an unconventional form of payment: 1,200 five-cent coins. Armed with a hidden camera, the unidentified man meticulously withdrew the hefty sum from a local bank, intent on delivering a bureaucratic headache to council officials.

Upon arriving at the council office, the man boldly inquired, "Can I pay cash?" When the unsuspecting receptionist confirmed, he unceremoniously dumped the towering pile of coins onto her desk, demanding a receipt. Amidst the ensuing commotion, the woman politely declined, citing legal restrictions.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has established clear limits on the use of coins as legal tender. As per the RBA's website, the maximum allowable payments with coins are as follows:

• Up to 20 cents for combinations of one-cent and two-cent coins
• Up to $5 for combinations of five-cent, 10-cent, 20-cent, and 50-cent coins
• Up to 10 times the face value for one-dollar and two-dollar coins

Undeterred, the man persisted, invoking his aversion to dealing with "corporations." However, his attempts to force the unorthodox transaction were ultimately futile.

An Adelaide City Council spokesperson confirmed that the man's payment would not be accepted and that he remained obligated to settle the outstanding fine.

The incident has sparked a debate about the practicality and legality of using large quantities of coins as payment. Some argue that such extreme tactics are justified to protest perceived bureaucratic inefficiencies, while others condemn them as disruptive and disrespectful.

Regardless of one's perspective, the man's actions have illuminated the legal limitations surrounding the use of coins in Australia. As a result, future attempts to settle large debts with an abundance of small change are likely to be met with similar resistance from authorities.