2,500 pennies: Is it legal to pay a bill in pennies?

2,500 pennies: A Utah man was cited with disorderly conduct after trying to pay a disputed $25 doctor's bill in pennies. Are US businesses free to decline payme nt in US currency? Temp Headline Image A Utah man attempted to pay a disputed doctor's bill with 2,500 pennies. Is that legal? (Chris Knorr/Design Pics/Newscom ) By Eoin O'Carroll, CSMonitor.com posted June 6, 2011 at 1:01 pm EDT A man in Vernal, Utah, has been charged with disorderly conduct after attempting to pay a disputed medical bill with 2,500 pennies, police say. According to a story that appeared Friday in The Deseret News, Jason West went t o Vernal's Basin Clinic to dispute a $25 doctor's bill. If the clinic remained u nconvinced, Mr. West came with a Plan B, which involved almost 14 lbs. of pennie s. Apparently, the argument didn't go his way. According to Vernal police, West ask ed if the clinic accepted cash, and then dumped the 2,500 pennies on the counter , demanding that they count it. The pennies were strewn about the counter and the f loor, said the assistant police chief. IN PICTURES: Some of the world's most eye-catching currencies It's likely that the disorderly conduct charge had more to do with the dumping a nd strewing of the pennies and less to do with the currency itself. But the inci dent does raise a legitimate question: Are businesses required to take your penn ies? A penny is, after all, legal tender. Doesn't that mean they are good everyw here? Here's what the law says: The Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C . 5103, states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve not es and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues. Foreign gold or silver co ins are not legal tender for debts." All this means is that the US Federal Reserve system must honor all US currency. As the US Treasury points out, there's nothing in the law that says that privat e businesses have to accept it for all transactions. If a merchant wants to sell her products in exchange for gold bullion, nothing but dimes minted before 1946 , Swedish fish, or Monopoly money, that's her right under the law. The absence of such a law is how bus lines can legally refuse to accept your dol lar bills, gas station clerks can turn their noses up at your $100s, and panhand lers near the Monitor's newsroom can yell at you after you drop a Sacagawea doll ar coin in their cup, even though you were just trying to be nice. In any case, West faces a fine of up to $140. If he's convicted, he's best advis ed to write a check. IN PICTURES: Some of the world's most eye-catching currencies