News
News

No pocket change: Man delivers 300,000 pennies to DMV

Nick Stafford waits for his number to be called Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, as he stands beside of 5 wheelbarrows full of change, mostly pennies, at the DMV in Lebanon, Va. Stafford was paying the sales tax on two cars that he was titling. Stafford had paid $165 to file three lawsuits in Russell County General District Court: two against specific employees at the Lebanon DMV and one against the DMV itself., which means he spent $1,005 to get 10 phone numbers and the satisfaction of delivering 300,000 pennies. Not to mention the nearly $3,000 he paid the DMV for the cars. (David Criggeru/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP)

Credit: David Criggeru

Credit: David Criggeru

Nick Stafford waits for his number to be called Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, as he stands beside of 5 wheelbarrows full of change, mostly pennies, at the DMV in Lebanon, Va. Stafford was paying the sales tax on two cars that he was titling. Stafford had paid $165 to file three lawsuits in Russell County General District Court: two against specific employees at the Lebanon DMV and one against the DMV itself., which means he spent $1,005 to get 10 phone numbers and the satisfaction of delivering 300,000 pennies. Not to mention the nearly $3,000 he paid the DMV for the cars. (David Criggeru/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP)
Jan 13, 2017

LEBANON, Va. (AP) - Now, that's a lot of change.

A Virginia man used 300,000 pennies to pay sales tax on two cars at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The Bristol Herald Courier reports (http://bit.ly/2jlMLsp) that Nick Stafford delivered five wheelbarrows full of change, mostly pennies, at the DMW office in Lebanon, Virginia, on Wednesday. The coins weighed in at 1,600 pounds.

Stafford said he paid in coins to "inconvenience" the DMV.

Stafford was upset because he was unable to find out the direct number to the Lebanon DMV until filing a Freedom of Information Act request. He later sued the state because he says he was denied direct phone numbers to other DMV offices in his area.

TRENDING STORIES:

Stafford ended up filing three lawsuits, which were dismissed Tuesday.

Stafford wrote on his Facebook page that it took employees more than 12 hours to count the coins.

___

Information from: Bristol Herald Courier, http://www.bristolnews.com

More Stories

Keep Reading

On April 8, 1974, in Atlanta, Hank Aaron smashed baseball’s home run record. Our special coverage celebrating the 50th anniversary of this magical moment has begun online and in our print editions. There’s still more to come as Monday’s historic anniversary arrives.

Credit: Richard Watkins

Illustration for AJC honors Hank Aaron back in the glittering lights

Illustration for AJC honors Hank Aaron back in the glittering lights

‘Digital is real time, print is lifetime’: Farewells to the paper AJC

From the sound of the presses to framing special front pages, those who helped build the AJC share their memories.

PSC won’t delay key Georgia Power vote after Democrats’ election wins

The Georgia Public Service Commission has rejected a bid to delay a key vote on whether to allow Georgia Power to execute a historic expansion of its generation fleet.

The Latest

In 1993, Atlanta had two city papers, The Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution. The newsrooms merged years earlier, but they didn't become The Atlanta Journal-Constitution until 2001. (AJC 1993)

‘Digital is real time, print is lifetime’: Farewells to the paper AJC

LISTEN

‘It’s UATL’: Fire and Ice: The Joy Goddess of Harlem

PSC won’t delay key Georgia Power vote after Democrats’ election wins

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

With some solar power tax breaks expiring, Georgians rush to catch the sun

Georgia solar installers say they’re seeing a surge of customers trying to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits go away at the end of the year.

‘Automatic for the People’: Weaver D’s still bonds Athens as era nears end

After feeding everyone from R.E.M. to Brian Kemp, and coining a phrase that went global, Dexter Weaver is preparing to close his storied Athens soul food restaurant.