April Fools' microchip prank irks resident

BERNALILLO, N.M., April 4 (UPI) -- Some residents of a New Mexico town said they were angered by an April Fools' prank using a fake city newsletter to tell them they would be microchipped.

The document, printed in the style of the Bernalillo city newsletter, was delivered to homes Monday and explained a toll road was going electronic and "residents of Bernalillo will be exempt from toll charges and will be implanted with a microchip that will allow for toll-free travel," KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, reported Thursday.

"You go to the bottom, and it says, 'Happy April Fool's Day,'" Miller said.

However, Miller said the disclaimer was not conspicuously placed.

Oh, I was very fooled," Miller said, "until I was contacted by someone, who was contacted by someone, who was contacted by someone, who said, 'Look to the bottom of the document.'"

"This is not a document to be playing around with," Miller said. "It's something that money, time and effort was put into, and no one gains from it. I'm all for a joke -- but this isn't funny."

Not all residents were upset by the prank. Local woman Mary Aguilar-Lee said she rated the joke an eight on her humor scale.

City leaders did not respond to calls for comment.