Whoever […] defaces, disfigures, […], or does any other thing to any bank […] note […] with intent to render such […] unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
Well but see the intent isn’t to render it unfit to be reissued, the whole point is that you want it to stay in circulation so as many people as possible see the additional message.
No. If you can’t spell out “rapist” on facebook without being canceled. you sure as hell can bet your butt on a dollar note with that remark not staying in circulation. and you’re supposed to know that. so if you write that on a dollar bill, i don’t think it’s “plausible deniability” to say “i considered this dollar bill fine for further circulation”.
You wouldn’t need plausible deniability because the prosecution would have to prove that your intent was to make the bill unfit for circulation. Intent is already notoriously difficult to prove in a court of law, and it would be very difficult to prove someone wanted to take a bill out of circulation by writing a message on it that they hoped would be seen by people.
Even if the result is that the bill gets taken out of circulation, the court would have to prove that you knew that would happen and wanted it to.
with intent to render such […] unfit to be reissued
This isn’t trying to take it out of circulation tho, so that probably wouldn’t apply. They’d have to make an argument that effectively goes against the first amendment to say you can’t write on currency you plan to spend.
A quick internet search reveals:
18 U.S. Code § 333
So personally I wouldn’t bet on this not being illegal. On the other hand, freedom of opinion might save your butt. But what do I know about US law?
Well but see the intent isn’t to render it unfit to be reissued, the whole point is that you want it to stay in circulation so as many people as possible see the additional message.
Good point!
This is legalese. The
“with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued”
probably relates only to the
“or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt”
part, and not the whole
“Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together”
No. If you can’t spell out “rapist” on facebook without being canceled. you sure as hell can bet your butt on a dollar note with that remark not staying in circulation. and you’re supposed to know that. so if you write that on a dollar bill, i don’t think it’s “plausible deniability” to say “i considered this dollar bill fine for further circulation”.
You wouldn’t need plausible deniability because the prosecution would have to prove that your intent was to make the bill unfit for circulation. Intent is already notoriously difficult to prove in a court of law, and it would be very difficult to prove someone wanted to take a bill out of circulation by writing a message on it that they hoped would be seen by people.
Even if the result is that the bill gets taken out of circulation, the court would have to prove that you knew that would happen and wanted it to.
What are they gonna do? Take every note out of circulation?
This isn’t trying to take it out of circulation tho, so that probably wouldn’t apply. They’d have to make an argument that effectively goes against the first amendment to say you can’t write on currency you plan to spend.
“rendering unfit” is when you glue $20 corners to a $10 to pass it off as a 20.
It would be almost impossible to pin it on anyone.
Nah, totally legal. As long as you make sure you don’t draw over anything renders it unfit for reissue
Arguably relevant precedent:
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/430/705/