{"id":355701,"date":"2016-04-04T10:42:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/civilrights\/enforcing-your-civil-rights\/discrimination-in-public-accommodations-government-enforcement.html"},"modified":"2017-08-11T12:08:25","modified_gmt":"2017-08-11T17:08:25","slug":"discrimination-in-public-accommodations-government-enforcement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/enforcing-your-civil-rights\/discrimination-in-public-accommodations-government-enforcement.html","title":{"rendered":"Discrimination in Public Accommodations: Government Enforcement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Discrimination in Public Accommodations: Government Enforcement<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Federal law prohibits privately owned facilities that offer food, lodging, gasoline or entertainment to the public from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin; it also prohibits government-owned and\/or operated entities from discriminating on this basis. A place of public accommodation<\/a> includes many places that are open to the general public and the law requires that everyone has an equal opportunity<\/a> to enjoy the services, goods, and benefits of the public accommodations.<\/p>\n

Federal Public Accommodations Law<\/h2>\n

Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a place of public accommodation cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. If you think that you have been discriminated against in using such a facility<\/a>, you may file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division<\/a> of the Department of Justice, or with the United States attorney in your area. You may also file suit in the U.S. district court.<\/p>\n

In addition, the Americans with Disabilities Act<\/a> (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in a wide range of places of public accommodation, including facilities that offer lodging, food, entertainment, sales or rental services, health care and other professional services, or recreation. If you think that you have been discriminated against in using such a facility, you may file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, or with the United States attorney in your area. You may also file suit in the U.S. district court.<\/p>\n

The Disability Rights Section<\/a> of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice handles complaints of discrimination based on disability in places of public accommodation, including all hotels, restaurants, retail stores, theaters, health care facilities, convention centers, parks, and places of recreation. To file a complaint of discrimination based on disability, call (800) 514-0301<\/b> and send your complaint to:<\/p>\n

U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Disability Rights Section 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530<\/b><\/p>\n

(202) 307-2227<\/b><\/p>\n

TTY: (800) 514-0383<\/b><\/p>\n

Fax: (202) 307-1198<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Complaints regarding new construction of, or alterations to buildings or facilities funded by the federal government and subject to the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 should be sent to:<\/p>\n

Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
\n Office of Compliance and Enforcement 1331 F Street, NW, Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20004-1111<\/b><\/p>\n

(202) 222-0800 or (800) 872-2253<\/b><\/p>\n

TTY: (202) 272-0082 or (202) 993-2822<\/b><\/p>\n

Fax: (202) 272-0081<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

If the Disability Rights Section believes that there is a pattern or practice of discrimination, or the complaint raises an issue of general public importance, it may attempt to negotiate a settlement of the matter, or bring an action in U.S. district court. Any such action would be taken on behalf of the United States. You also have the option of filing your own lawsuit in U.S. district court.<\/p>\n

State Public Accommodations Law<\/h2>\n

There are also state laws<\/a> that broadly prohibit discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion, national origin, and disability in places of public accommodation. For more information, you should contact your state or local human rights agency, or your state attorney general’s office.<\/p>\n

Public facilities such as courthouses, jails, hospitals, and other facilities owned and operated by state and local government entities cannot discriminate in their services because of race, color, religion, national origin, or disability. If you think a public facility has discriminated against you because of race, color, religion, or national origin, you may file suit in the U.S. district court or file a complaint with the nearest U.S. Attorney’s Office<\/a>.<\/p>\n

People with disabilities cannot be discriminated against or excluded from services, programs, or activities offered by state or local governments. All public transportation systems must be accessible to people with disabilities, regardless of whether the system receives federal financial assistance.<\/p>\n

State and local governments must eliminate any eligibility criteria for participation in programs, activities, and services that screen out persons with disabilities, unless the government can establish that the requirements are necessary for the provision of the service, program, or activity. In addition, public facilities must ensure that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from services, programs, or activities because buildings are inaccessible.<\/a><\/p>\n

State and local agencies that provide emergency telephone services must provide "direct access" to individuals who rely on telecommunication display devices (TTD’s pr TTY’s) for the deaf, or computer modems for telephone communication. Companies offering telephone services to the general public must offer telephone relay services to individuals who use TTY’s or similar devices.<\/p>\n

Intrastate Complaints<\/h2>\n

Intrastate complaints should be filed with that state. Interstate complaints should be filed with the Federal Communications Commission<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Discrimination complaints about public facilities (other than Architectural Barriers Act complaints) should be sent to:<\/p>\n