Dirty Money

Money is soiled with dirt, germs and even benzoylmethylecgonine (cocaine).  Mom told us to wash our hands after handling money because it was dirty.  Boy was she ever right. 

Researchers at the  Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio conducted a study on a sample of United States One Dollar bills and found that 94% of the bills were contaminated with bacteria that could cause either serious or mild illness.  Additionally, the study found that 7% of the bills were contaminated with bacteria that included Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae.  Apparently, both of these can cause pneumonia or blood infections, even in healthy adults.  

So what?  Yes, the risk is probably about the same as touching a public handrail.  However, given the mobility of our currency, the pathogens could come from anywhere. Remember the SARS epidemic in China?  Beware, maybe the coming zombie apocalypse will be linked to the “Benjamins”.

Dr. James Woodford, a  forensic chemist from Atlanta, GA, has testified that at least 90% of all paper currency in the United States contains sufficient quantities of cocaine to alert a drug-sniffing dog.  Another study summarized in Crime and Chemical Analysis 243 SCIENCE 1554 (1989) found that up to 97% of all US paper currency in circulation is contaminated with cocaine.

So why is our currency so corrupt?  The experts suggest there are many possible causes from direct contact with the cocaine to inadvertent transfer when a dirty bill contaminates other bills as a result of being comingled in cash registers , pockets, wallets, and currency counting machines at financial institutions. 

So what? Well until recently, the police would often use a drug-sniffing dog’s signal as probable cause to detain a suspect or to confiscate his /her money because it was deemed drug-related.  Imagine this: you are pulled over for a minor traffic violation and the police find a  large amount of cash in your possession.  The drug-sniffing canine is summoned and it alerts the officers that your cash is hot with illicit residual.  The police then confiscate the cash and make a claim that you should forfeit it because it is drug related profits.  Some may say good! – That nobody with honest intentions drives around with a wad of cash.  Really?....have you ever purchased a used car from a private seller that demand cash only?...... or what about the Granny who refuses to use credit cards and bank transfers.

Our Cash is dirty and in more ways than you may have thought….and no this message was not brought to you by Visa, MasterCard or American Express.  Although, I guess using the plastic has some possible health and legal benefits.

What say you? 

Legal blogs are a form of informational advertising and should not be taken as legal advice.  Please contact me at bill.joherl@roadrunner.com if you have any questions about this topic and/or another legal matter.

William R. Joherl, Esq. 

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net