A toll booth worker got revenge on a driver who tried to ‘stick it to the man’ by paying his fee in pennies – but the worker got the last laugh with how he handled the situation
A toll booth worker has been praised for their ‘petty revenge’ on a driver who paid their fee in pennies to ‘prove a point’. While the worker understands the driver’s frustration, they believe their attempt to ‘prove a point’ was misdirected as they’re simply an employee and don’t make the rules.
He said on Reddit: “I was working for the toll authority before they got rid of them for ez-pass. This guy comes through with a toll of about £5. He raised his cupped hands up towards me full of pennies and nickels. Once I took them he said, ‘Here you go! Enjoy counting!’ while laughing to himself.”
To play him at his own game, he told the driver to put his car in neutral while he sits and counts them all – saying he’ll call “state troopers to bring him back” if he drives away before the fee is counted.
He added: “He pouted the entire time while I stacked pennies, and, accidentally knocked them over, having to start again a couple times.
“He was over by 20 cents. I gave it back to him and said: ‘Here’s your change. Aren’t you glad you waited?’.”
Commenting on his post, one user said: ““Aren’t you glad you waited” is the kind of thing you usually think about after and kick yourself for not getting to use it.” Another user added: “Petty at its finest.”
A third user said: “When I worked briefly at a courthouse, I promised the clerks that I would help out with someone that did that. The rules would be the following:
“Don’t interrupt me while I’m counting, or I’d have to start over. The clerks wouldn’t see the money until I’ve verified that it’s all there. If you leave before I’m finished counting, it would be considered abandoned property, and would not be applied to your bill/fine/fees.
“Never had to do that, but I kind of wished it would happen just once to break up the monotony.”
One more user added: “Worked tolls at the border and I have absolutely done this. Though I didn’t need the police threat. I just keep the gate closed.”
One more user added: “I’ll never understand people who do this and think they’re ‘sticking it to The Man’. Like, no, sir, you’re just annoying the employee who’s just trying to make their rent.
“Had a woman come in with a Ziploc full of coins back when I worked at a deli ’cause she was p***ed at the owner for some reason, and her expression faded from vindictive smugness to bordering on sheepishness when I took my time broadly counting them all out in front of her.
“Guess watching a worker simply do their job and rattle off a default, ‘Have a nice day,’ at the end took the wind out of the sails of her imagined victory.”
