Business History Books » Business Consulting » Toilet access in California — what's the law?
Toilet access in California — what's the law?
Question:
> Just had one of those unfortunate encounters with a business that won’t > allow patrons to use the toilet. (I had my handy card that CCFA sent to > its members this year, but there really wasn’t time to use it. The > manager had directed me to a fast food restaurant some 3 doors away, and I > knew I had to make a break for it.)
Ask? When I had UC there were times when I just didn’t ask. When I lived in Boston I had a terrible time being out in the streets because they have so few public restrooms. One trick I’d use was rush into a bar or restarant with a "I’m late for meeting a friend" look and just barge past the hostess/host and head straight for the john. On the way out I’d say, "Oh, they aren’t hear yet, I’m going to see if they are on the street waiting for me." When I know a store has a restroom, particulary grocery stores, I just go, I don’t even ask. These days I can actually hold it but I still forget. Sometimes I’ll get real testy and say I have to go now and my fiance will remind me that I have an ileostomy now and I can wait 5 more minutes! Barbara
Response:
> Great! > I have no idea about the law–just about being forbidden to use toilets in > CA (and elsewhere, to be fair…). It’s bizarre, but they’d rather have > me unleash on the floor, I think, than use a bathroom! (I asked and was > told if I DID I’d be arrested, so maybe they didn’t prefer it…) I’ve > even had trouble at Kaiser–where I wasn’t allowed to use a bathroom in > the examining area and was sent to a public stall far away—and which was > closed!
I have no idea about the law, either, but I was recently in California and may be moving there. While there, I must have had a beverage in just about every restaurant in the Bay area, so as a paying customer, I could use the bathroom.
Response:
Hi REP: You are a big spender. Prior to my colectomy, my "trick" was to buy gum or certs! — Regards, "Time flies when you’re having fun"-Walt Disney "Time’s fun when you’re having flies"-Kermit the Frog
Response:
>12:14:15 -0500 >Ask? When I had UC there were times when I just >didn’t ask. >When I know a store has a restroom, particulary >grocery stores, I just go, I don’t even ask.
I’m the same way, but this little episode occured in a Goodwill store where no restrooms were in evidence. I suppose, though, if I had burst through the doors with the signs "authorized access only" and frantically searched for the restroom, no one would have stopped me. Trouble is, I couldn’t count on that, and in the time it would have taken to try it, I probably would have soiled myself. Sue IBD Creative Outlet: http://members.aol.com/HobbsHs/ibd/ibd.htm
Response:
Hi folks — Just had one of those unfortunate encounters with a business that won’t allow patrons to use the toilet. (I had my handy card that CCFA sent to its members this year, but there really wasn’t time to use it. The manager had directed me to a fast food restaurant some 3 doors away, and I knew I had to make a break for it.) It’s got me wondering. Since CD is recognized by the state of California as a disability, does that mean California businesses have to let us use their toilets, despite the liability/insurance excuse they always claim? I’m going to develop a letter to send to every business that does this to me, and I want to have facts to back me up in case there are legal grounds on which to insist on having access. Even without that, there’s always the moral high ground, and righteous indignation looks so grand on paper! Sue IBD Creative Outlet: http://members.aol.com/HobbsHs/ibd/ibd.htm
Response:
Try this newsgroup for information about laws and the ADA. It is a really good source for asking questions and getting answers. The folks here are pretty nice too. bit.listserv.ada-law – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi folks — >Just had one of those unfortunate encounters with a business that won’t >allow patrons to use the toilet. (I had my handy card that CCFA sent to >its members this year, but there really wasn’t time to use it. The >manager had directed me to a fast food restaurant some 3 doors away, and I >knew I had to make a break for it.) It’s got me wondering. Since CD is >recognized by the state of California as a disability, does that mean >California businesses have to let us use their toilets, despite the >liability/insurance excuse they always claim? >I’m going to develop a letter to send to every business that does this to >me, and I want to have facts to back me up in case there are legal grounds >on which to insist on having access. Even without that, there’s always >the moral high ground, and righteous indignation looks so grand on paper! >Sue >IBD Creative Outlet: http://members.aol.com/HobbsHs/ibd/ibd.htm
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