Judge rules paper money unfair to blind

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,549
1,130
126
Originally posted by: SampSon
Another cute little judge with a huge ego.

Not to be harsh, but reality is that the world revolves (or should) around non-handicapped people.

I doubt the treasury will do anything, but the best way to do it is making small braille like dots on the bills.

They have to respond. In all likelyhood it will be appealed. The fact of the matter is, the govt lost a case, it can appeal.

The reality is, there have been various acts passed by congress regarding the handicapped, and well I wouldnt doubt it if our currency violates more than one of them. Unless you want to strike down the legislation as unconstitutional, I forsee different sized denominations in the future.
 

Nohr

Diamond Member
Jan 6, 2001
7,302
32
101
www.flickr.com
There's PC software that works with a scanner that will recognize bill denominations. I think there are specialized scanners that will do it as well indepent of a computer. It can goof sometimes though (bill is worn, torn, etc).

Debit cards are your friend.
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
71
Reminds me of Ray where he had people pay him in one dollar bills so he can keep track of how many bills he was getting.
 

CarlKillerMiller

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2003
3,099
0
0
I'd have to agree with the braille dots idea, it's the one that I think would be hardest to tamper with without having to modify the money much. And to those who don't think it'll be expensive: the treasury will have to recall all paper money in circulation and replace it with handicapped-accessible money, right?
 

Eska

Banned
Nov 13, 2006
327
0
0
What about people who have nerve system malfunction that can't feel?!
What about people who have no hands?!?!
What about people who have no monay?!?!?!?!

Stop discriminating people!!!!
 

amicold

Platinum Member
Feb 7, 2005
2,656
1
81
Originally posted by: Quasmo
stupid IMHO

Yes, although it is true. But this is one of those "life's not fair" things. No one said the blind can't have money. I suppose Sony should make headphones for the deaf.
 

shoRunner

Platinum Member
Nov 8, 2004
2,629
1
0
Originally posted by: mugs

Do you understand what a judge does? :confused: Congress passes laws, judges interpret them. Congress passed this "Rehabilitation Act," and the judge ruled that the Rehabilitation Act's provision of meaningful access applied to the treasury department in this case. Judges can't just make up whatever laws they want.

but they can interpret the laws how everthey want, which is just about the same
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: shoRunner
Originally posted by: mugs

Do you understand what a judge does? :confused: Congress passes laws, judges interpret them. Congress passed this "Rehabilitation Act," and the judge ruled that the Rehabilitation Act's provision of meaningful access applied to the treasury department in this case. Judges can't just make up whatever laws they want.

but they can interpret the laws how everthey want, which is just about the same

Usually the rulings that are blamed on "activist judges" are just the result of poorly written laws. Fortunately when there is a case of an activist judge, you can appeal the ruling all the way up to the Supreme Court.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: dquan97
Judge says Treasury Department is violating the law by keeping all money the same size and feel.
November 28 2006: 6:10 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Treasury Department is violating the law by failing to design and issue currency that is readily distinguishable to blind and visually impaired people.

Judge James Robertson, in a ruling on a suit by the American Council of the Blind, ordered the Treasury to devise a method to tell bills apart.

The judge wrote that the current configuration of paper money violates the Rehabilitation Act's guarantee of "meaningful access."

"It can no longer be successfully argued that a blind person has 'meaningful access' to currency if she cannot accurately identify paper money without assistance," Robertson wrote in his ruling.

He further ruled that finding a solution to the problem would not be an "undue burden" on the government and ordered the Treasury Department to begin working on a solution within 30 days.
The American Council for the Blind has submitted several alternatives, including embossing, holes punched in the paper or using different-sized bills for different denominations.

The Treasury Department had no comment on the ruling.


seriously, does his power reaches the treasury dept. and order them to do something? what if he said that the green on the dollar is bad and the TD must change the color? i dont think he can... but i could be wrong.

Do you understand what a judge does? :confused: Congress passes laws, judges interpret them. Congress passed this "Rehabilitation Act," and the judge ruled that the Rehabilitation Act's provision of meaningful access applied to the treasury department in this case. Judges can't just make up whatever laws they want.

damn dude no need to be a asshole in your reply.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: dquan97
Judge says Treasury Department is violating the law by keeping all money the same size and feel.
November 28 2006: 6:10 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Treasury Department is violating the law by failing to design and issue currency that is readily distinguishable to blind and visually impaired people.

Judge James Robertson, in a ruling on a suit by the American Council of the Blind, ordered the Treasury to devise a method to tell bills apart.

The judge wrote that the current configuration of paper money violates the Rehabilitation Act's guarantee of "meaningful access."

"It can no longer be successfully argued that a blind person has 'meaningful access' to currency if she cannot accurately identify paper money without assistance," Robertson wrote in his ruling.

He further ruled that finding a solution to the problem would not be an "undue burden" on the government and ordered the Treasury Department to begin working on a solution within 30 days.
The American Council for the Blind has submitted several alternatives, including embossing, holes punched in the paper or using different-sized bills for different denominations.

The Treasury Department had no comment on the ruling.


seriously, does his power reaches the treasury dept. and order them to do something? what if he said that the green on the dollar is bad and the TD must change the color? i dont think he can... but i could be wrong.

Do you understand what a judge does? :confused: Congress passes laws, judges interpret them. Congress passed this "Rehabilitation Act," and the judge ruled that the Rehabilitation Act's provision of meaningful access applied to the treasury department in this case. Judges can't just make up whatever laws they want.

damn dude no need to be a asshole in your reply.

How was I being an asshole? I asked if you understand what a judge does, because your post showed a clear lack of understanding of what a judge's role is.
 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,549
1,130
126
Originally posted by: shoRunner
Originally posted by: mugs

Do you understand what a judge does? :confused: Congress passes laws, judges interpret them. Congress passed this "Rehabilitation Act," and the judge ruled that the Rehabilitation Act's provision of meaningful access applied to the treasury department in this case. Judges can't just make up whatever laws they want.

but they can interpret the laws how everthey want, which is just about the same

Yes and they can then get struck down by the Circuit Court of Appeals and/or the USSCt.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Embossing Braille shouldn't be very difficult at all. All of our new bills have that feature.

Canadian bill design > US bill design :p
 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,549
1,130
126
Originally posted by: CarlKillerMiller
I'd have to agree with the braille dots idea, it's the one that I think would be hardest to tamper with without having to modify the money much. And to those who don't think it'll be expensive: the treasury will have to recall all paper money in circulation and replace it with handicapped-accessible money, right?

The avg bill is in circulation for 18 months. Yes you can find older bills, but if they ever make it to a federal reserve bank, they go out of circulation. It wouldnt cost much more than any other previous redesign to cycle in the new bills over a 3 year period. This judge didnt say, heres the ruling you have XXX days to comply fully. It says they have to start working on a solution within 30 days.
 

Killerme33

Senior member
Jan 17, 2006
399
0
0
Cater to the majority of people who aren't blind. If you're blind carry around a scanner that will tell them the value of the bill.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: Killerme33
Cater to the majority of people who aren't blind. If you're blind carry around a scanner that will tell them the value of the bill.

Yeah, who cares if making money more accessible to blind people would be inexpensive and easy to do - they're a minority, they don't matter.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Not sure why this is a big deal. They have braille everywhere these days, like atms, pay phones, etc. Crosswalks make those sounds. For most people this doesnt effect them at all, and to the blind, it helps a lot.
 

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
0
Other countries have bills of different size specifically for this purpose. THey also use different colors to help visually impaired people who can still see. I have no idea why anyone would be opposed to some bills being smaller... Typical hatred of change attitude I guess.
 

Toastedlightly

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2004
7,214
6
81
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Other countries have bills of different size specifically for this purpose. THey also use different colors to help visually impaired people who can still see. I have no idea why anyone would be opposed to some bills being smaller... Typical hatred of change attitude I guess.

I think a lot has to do w/ redoing many, many machines which take bills (soda, candy, ect) which could be a huge financial burden.
 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,549
1,130
126
Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Other countries have bills of different size specifically for this purpose. THey also use different colors to help visually impaired people who can still see. I have no idea why anyone would be opposed to some bills being smaller... Typical hatred of change attitude I guess.

I think a lot has to do w/ redoing many, many machines which take bills (soda, candy, ect) which could be a huge financial burden.

If it was up to the vending industry we would have $1 coins and zero $1 dollar bills.

The vending industry hates paper money. Because it costs them hundreds of millions a year in maintenance.

Most machines only take $1s. So it wouldnt be difficult. Keep the ones the way they are now, and change the rest.
 
May 16, 2000
13,522
0
0
Originally posted by: bobdelt
some of these ideas have been so stupid.... just make it different sizes like most countries...

That's the worst idea of the lot. Wallets are a certain size, change machines accept bills of a certain size, money envelopes are a certain size...need I go on? Changing sizes would be the single most expensive thing the government could do and would require everyone in the country to make changes.
 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,549
1,130
126
Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
Originally posted by: bobdelt
some of these ideas have been so stupid.... just make it different sizes like most countries...

That's the worst idea of the lot. Wallets are a certain size, change machines accept bills of a certain size, money envelopes are a certain size...need I go on? Changing sizes would be the single most expensive thing the government could do and would require everyone in the country to make changes.

Most expensive and everyone is quite the over statement.
 

Pepsei

Lifer
Dec 14, 2001
12,895
1
0
we need to try to make something that can not be counterfeited by north korean's.... superdollar anyone?