ARLINGTON, Va. -- Hotel owners across the country are debating whether to shut down their pools or invest the money necessary to install fixed pool lifts to assist handicapped people into and out of the water, USA Today reported.
The hotels must have the lifts in place by Thursday or they face civil penalties of $55,000, reported USA Today, which noted that 51,000 hotels are impacted by the new rules.
The new laws may ultimately deny the ability of millions of people to use pools in hotels, health clubs and campgrounds or RV parks due to the costs required to make them available to a few thousand people.
With just days before the deadline, some hotels are considering shutting their pools or whirlpools to avoid penalties or possible lawsuits, USA Today noted.
RV Daily Report noted in a story last week that campground owners were led to believe a much cheaper, portable lift would be acceptable until the Department of Justice changed its mind a few weeks ago.
"Everybody is committed to buying a portable pool lift. That is not in dispute," Best Western CEO David Kong told USA Today. "The challenge is, why does it need to be permanent?"
To read the full story in USA Today, click here.
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