10 Apr This business said no to cash payments. Can they?

Q. I went to a semi-pro baseball game in New Jersey and they would not accept cash for parking, admission or any food. Is it legal to not accept the good ole American dollar? I thought it had to be accepted.
— Frustrated

A. Ah, we’ve discussed this one before.

Back in 2019, the state passed a law that banned most stores and retailers from refusing to accept cash.

But as we see with most laws, there are exclusions.

It says: “A person selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail shall not require a buyer to pay using credit or prohibit cash as payment in order to purchase the goods or services. A person selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail shall accept legal tender when offered by the buyer as payment.”

Violations are costly: up to $2,500 for the first offense and up to $5,000 for the second offense.

But the law gives specific exceptions: some retailers at airports and certain parking facilities and entertainment and sports facilities with a seating capacity of 10,000.

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This story was originally published in April 2026. 

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