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Originally Posted by Cjleger337
Edit: As much as I didnt want to address some of the comments on here... private businesses arent private businesses as you think they are when they cater to the public. Ill just leave it at that because Im sure there are many hard felt opinions about how DA GUBMIT shouldnt be able to regulate "private" businesses but the fact is that businesses who deal with the public are held to a different set of standards. Just like you cant discriminate on who you serve based on their religion, race, nationality and other things, there are certain laws that are made to accommodate handicap patrons should they decide to frequent the establishment. Im sure many would feel different if they had a member of their family who was handicap.
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Not really. My wife's dad was in a wheelchair for over 40 years. Working his wheelchair up and down stairs was a frequent occurance for family members. I don't recall any family members ever saying that every business needed to spend thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars on ADA compliant handicapped ramps in cases where they would seldom be used.
I've spent a lot of time at Bridgeside Marina and Bobby Lynns Marina. Both went through the expense and effort of installing ramps. I've never seen a single handicapped person using those ramps. It does not make sense to me for the government to force business owners to accomodate potential customers when the expected usage is a relatively rare event. This is even more true when other federal regulations (flood insurance and loan regulations) require the bottom floor of buildings to be 15-20 ft above grade. Requiring a 4 ft ramp so handicapped patrons can get into a restaurant is one thing, requiring 20 ft ramps so they can get into most businesses in a place like Grand Isle is absurd.