does anyone know if it is legal to charge a person in a certain gas/food/alchol store to use the bathroom?

Question

i went to a gas station very close to my house.....i go there all the time even if it is on the opposite side of the street that i m going toward..... anyways i was dressed normal, not slutish or gangish or partyish... and they charged me $2 for the bathroom....which i denied! I had gone there many times and i have used the restroom there before with no charge..... but i was curious if it was legal for them to charge in arlington tx........to use a bathroom.... im very angry considering during the day i have used the bathroom with no charge.... this time...my kids were in the car waiting for milk and cereal and i was told i would be charged to use the bathroom.......someone let me know if this is legal actually in a link i can go by or something because i have pictures and receits that prove i was a normal person...no reason to be refused to anything..... thank you

Answer 1

A bathroom in a business establishment is only free for its customers.

Answer 2

Use of restroom facilities is usually made free of charge.
If you have not yet used the restrooms or if there is signage or devices clearly indicating that there is a charge for using the restroom, then yes.
I doubt if any court would recognize any charges for restroom use without such things.

Answer 3

I think that business is banking on the fact that every business has a right to "serve" whomever they want, and that includes the use of all their facilities including restrooms. Sorry.

Answer 4

When I was little, I remember there was a laundromat with a lock on the bathroom door that could only be opened when money was inserted. Oh yea, and if it's a business, it's not really a public restroom since it's on private property. They could charge you just for coming in if they wanted, like the swap meet.

Answer 5

There is no legal restriction against charging for bathroom use in a private business establishment.