WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three Americans have filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service, claiming that the agency’s refusal to accept cash payments for park entry violates federal law. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., asserts that the park service is infringing on the Americans’ right to pay with cash at various parks, monuments, and historic sites across the country.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are from California, New York, and Georgia. They have cited instances where they were denied entry at National Park Service locations in states including Arizona, New York, and Georgia because they were unable to pay digitally. The lawsuit alleges that 29 sites within the National Park System do not accept cash as payment.
The National Park Service made the decision to go cashless in May 2023, stating that the move was in response to policies by the U.S. Treasury to reduce cash and check transactions. Additionally, the closure of brick-and-mortar banks and a decline in the amount of cash offered by visitors were cited as reasons for the shift. The park service consolidated their point-of-sale systems into a single cashless system to streamline transactions.
While the plaintiffs acknowledge the benefits of the cashless system, they argue that the National Park Service’s refusal to accept cash violates federal law. They are calling for the restoration of cash payment options for visitors, as millions of Americans do not have access to bank accounts.
The lawsuit does not seek any monetary award but rather aims to assert the Americans’ right to pay with cash when entering national parks. Their lawyer emphasized that the lawsuit is supported by the Children’s Health Defense organization. The park service is expected to respond to the lawsuit by May 16.
The National Park Service has not yet issued a comment regarding the case. The outcome of this lawsuit could have implications for the future of park entry fees and payment methods at National Park Service locations across the United States.