Call for Plaintiffs in New Jersey, New York and Georgia

CHD is looking for plaintiffs who wish to visit the Thomas Edison National Historical Park (West Orange, NJ), Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site (Hyde Park, NY), and Fort Pulaski National Monument (Savannah, GA) who either do not have credit/debit cards or who pay with cash.

Over the past few years, the National Park Service (NPS) began implementing a cashless payment program for entrance fees. Approximately 20 NPS sites currently refuse to accept cash as legal tender to enter a park or will not allow cash purchases at gift shops and concessions, with more parks to follow. The NPS cashless program violates federal law defining legal tender.

Regardless of the purported benefits of a cashless program articulated by NPS — such as reducing logistics of handling cash collected — those benefits cannot override NPS’s legal obligation to accept cash. Individuals without bank accounts or credit cards and those who wish to exercise their right to pay in cash are blocked from these national treasures.

Of course, it is lawful for NPS sites to accept credit/debit cards from those who wish to pay that way, but not to the exclusion of cash. At sites where credit/debit cards are the only option, those wishing to enter may incur bank charges, transaction fees, or interest on top of the park fees. Moreover, any additional cost of this cashless program could be borne by taxpayers.

CHD supports the U.S. government accepting its currency as legal tender for all public charges. Not doing so allows the government to embark upon a path that may further erode our rights. The mission of NPS is to “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.” Refusal to accept U.S. currency not only violates the law but also NPS’s mission.

If you would like to apply to be a plaintiff, please complete the form below.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

U.S. Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Parks you would like to visit(Required)

Please select at least one.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park (West Orange, NJ)

Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site (Hyde Park, NY)

Fort Pulaski National Monument (Savannah, GA)

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

Sign up for free news and updates from Children’s Health Defense. CHD focuses on legal strategies to defend the health of our children and obtain justice for those injured. We can't do it without your support.