Since defacing currency is illegal in Canda…
Aren't you worried this site aids criminal activity?

Just thought I'd ask.

Isn't it illegal to write on or otherwise deface currency?

I had a lawyer check things out; keep in mind that this is in no way written in stone, and I am in no way telling you it's okay and that you should write on your notes. Like everything in life, you do so at your own risk… I write on my notes but that's me. Anyway… it seems in Canada that the law is a little outdated and deals more with coins. However, 'coin' can be applied to mean currency, as like most things with the law, there is some 'flex'. In a nutshell, the law states that scratching, marking or otherwise defacing coins such that it is unrecognizable, is illegal; so when you take a penny and put it in those tourist machines that squish the penny and mark it with a picture or something, that's breaking the law. As such, if you apply the law to notes, if you were to colour it completely black that would be breaking the law as well (of course, you'd also be a twit as you'd be out the face value of note).

Now that you are completely scared of being arrested, I'll mention that there are no cases in Canada in recorded history of anyone being convicted or even being brought to trial for defacing money. But still, do so at your own risk; you can't live your life in a bubble, right? :)

Finally, here is an official reply that Bishop got from The Bank of Canada on a question he asked them about the legality of stamping notes:

Date: Tue October 29, 2002 11:04 AM
To: Bishop
From: Bank of Canada

The Bank of Canada is aware that certain groups stamp Canadian bank notes in order to track their journey throughout Canada.

While neither the Bank Act nor the Criminal Code deal with the mutilation or defacement of bank notes, the Bank of Canada strongly objects to any mutilation or defacement of bank notes including simple markings similar to your example. All writing on notes limits their life. Such instances of mutilation and defacement carry a cost associated with them due to accelerated requirements for note replacement. Further, the mutilation and defacement of notes is not condoned as Canadian currency is a symbol and source of national pride.

Having said this, the bank note you possess remains legal tender and can be used in commercial transactions.

I hope this information will be helpful and thank you for your interest in Canadian currency.

Sylvie Dionne
Bank Note Communication and Compliance Team
Bank of Canada
1 888 513-8212

Hi Dave; check this link,
http://www.cdn-money.ca/cdnmoney/servlet/cmtHelp?help=bill-faq#illegal
The short answer is not realy in my opinion.
I avoid stamping on the Queen, and make my stamp neat, to avoid defacing the bill.
Cityscape

Nice!
Thank you for your enlightening response!

As with most Canadian laws, although an action is technically (or in this case, possibly) illegal: it doesn't really matter; no one's ever been charged; and though some institutions care in principal, they don't give a real rat's ass in practice.

Fantastic.
Makes me proud to be Canadian!

We like liv'n on the edge here…ROCK ON!

Since defacing currency is illegal in Canda..

Actually it's not. That law was removed in 1972. I suspect that it had to do with banktellers marking notes when counting, or stamping them with those big stamps they use.

What is illegal is mutilating notes. In other words, making them unusable.

how about if we we put horns, glasses and a mustache on the queens face?

Well that just wouldn't be proper etiquette… I am sure that a bank teller would remove it from circulation or if it came into the hands of a "royalist" they would wig out…. :o)

Actually, a funny story is that I did accidently use some bills at the local police station about a year ago without remembering that I had some bills that were marked as I thought I had both kinds. Marked and unmarked. There was no mistaking it was the source as I passed a few of them at the same time. Nobody said a peep……..

I was just kidding

Really, pretty sure we all did it as kids!
remember the 1 & 2 dollar bills

ok so what if.. (big if)
some big wig wants to stir poop up, and finds one of my bills, and gets ahold of DR and says.. WHO does this belong too, and WHO IS J-Lynn. Does DR have to give this info out? or because of the privacy act, he cant? Would they need a search warrant?

j-lynn…

how do you think I found out who you were?… :)

ummm i sent you my addy ;)

St. Rudyk, BEEHAVE, or i will send the authorities after you!!!! mu ha ha

Now answer my question, darn it! (haha i said da**it, and it corrected me!) geesh, what happened to this site? we cant say dam it ?

ok..ok….OKAY…. sheesh… :)

i'm not sure that this IS an answer to your question but the site administrator is pretty well-versed on how the various privacy legislations impact this site so he'd be the best to speak to this but i strongly suspect he'd fight release of your data to the extent of the protection of the law. i also suspect that a writ of assistance or whatever it be called would be needed to compel him to release personal information to the constabulary (or others).

why DO you ask, j-lynn… you been up to no good???… AGAIN???

-the saint

p.s. and those filters are in place to protect we of sensitive dispositions from those, clearly, such as YOU, who are just plain potty-mouthed! just TRY to type the proper name of your favourite mushroom…. s**ttake!

Thank you for the reply St. Rudyk.

mushroom?? perk isnt that a fun gi? (fun guy) haha get it ?? rofl