# Local McDonald's removed all the doors to their public restroom stalls, illegal? \[fixed title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 18, 2022, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755 "2022-09-18T12:57:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/41 "2022-09-19T15:57:28Z")
That’s disgusting! I’d personally boycott the restaurant, I really would. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/42 "2022-09-19T18:15:01Z")
I toured the USS Alabama, a WWII battleship. The head had a row of soft-sided stalls with no doors, facing the urinal trough. But it wasn’t toilets in the stalls, just a trough filled with flowing water. I figure you would always try to get the most upstream one that was unoccupied. Just in case a flaming TP boat was coming down river. They never mentioned this in war movies. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/43 "2022-09-19T23:16:05Z")
I meant I will use them sometimes during my lunch break when I eat inside the restaurant but can’t wait to go back at work. ---
**Author:** ![Snipe70e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Snipe70e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snipe70e)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/44 "2022-09-20T00:47:39Z")
On the old Training Ship Golden Bear, the one scrapped in the 70s the head was on the o1 deck at the bow of the ship. About 20 toilets and not one stall. In rough weather it was bad. You sat on a toilet and got your bottom washed at the same time. Also sometimes there would be one seasick Midshipman pooping in one toilet and puking in the next one. Could have been worse. The old battleships had a troth with water coming in one end and out the other. The seats were mounted on top of the troth. Every now and then some clown would light a ball of paper and toss it into the starting side of the troth. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/45 "2022-09-20T01:43:12Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > Marines- a shovel and some leaves. > > MREs have a small wad of toilet paper. MREs stands for meals that refuse to exit. You ain’t gonna need no small wad of paper. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/46 "2022-09-20T01:44:50Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > I remember USAF basic training. Sitting side by side taking a shit. No stalls–just a row of toilets. Basic training? At 29 Palms’ Camp Wilson that’s all we had was a row of crappers and no stall walls. It was a collaborative process. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/47 "2022-09-20T04:22:53Z")
My high school was breaking this law back in 91. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/48 "2022-09-20T15:43:07Z")
Many public restrooms in California state parks I’ve visited have had open stalls. So if they are state sanctioned I don’t see how it could be illegal. I’ve used McD’s toilets without buying food but I can see how that’s not in their best interest. Personally I don’t care if strangers see me poop. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/49 "2022-09-20T15:51:17Z")
While camping at Assateague, I’ve used showers near the beach. They have three wooden walls and a cable to hang your towel over. Never fails, once I’m all soaped up with my eyes closed, a gust of wind takes down the towel, leaving me on display for the people walking to use the beach. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/50 "2022-09-20T18:00:28Z")
I remember the crappers at Camp Perry were the low-door type with big gaps at the bottom and no locks. You just sung out “Yo!” if someone tried opening it. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/51 "2022-09-21T00:01:55Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > My high school was breaking this law back in 91. Good times. What law were they breaking? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/52 "2022-09-21T00:27:29Z")
My annoyance is with a Mens with a urinal and a toilet, but no wall. With a wall (I am not asking for a stall with a door, just a partition), two could use it at once. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/53 "2022-09-21T03:48:00Z")
Many of the smaller fast food/drink like Starbucks have a small room with a toilet and urinal and sink, and nothing like dividers. If it’s time for number two, you really hope the push-to-lock door handle works as expected. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/54 "2022-09-21T14:43:19Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > It may be a problem if children use them and they would be exposed to public viewing. That does seem like it could be a legal issue even if there’s no other specific laws. A restaurant (public accommodation and all that) is different than a boys-only locker room, a military barracks, or a campground. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/55 "2022-09-21T15:05:30Z")
That’s pretty standard for a single user restroom everywhere ( stores, restaurants, doctor’s offices ) - it’s very uncommon to see a room meant for one user at a time to have something dividing the toilet from the sink. And plenty are gender-neutral and don’t have a urinal. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/56 "2022-09-21T17:40:06Z")
🤨 That’s just a single-user room. Why would it have dividers when it’s meant for only one person to use at a time? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/57 "2022-09-21T17:48:32Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > If it’s time for number two, you really hope the push-to-lock door handle works as expected. I’d say that I hope it works regardless. If it’s a single-use bathroom, which is what you’re describing, then the lock is what ensures privacy. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/58 "2022-09-21T19:14:23Z")
Because easily two can use at once. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/59 "2022-09-21T23:34:13Z")
It’s not meant for two people. It’s a single-occupancy room. Cutting it into two rooms defeats the whole purpose of having it in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755/60 "2022-09-21T23:55:24Z")
Why would the “purpose” be only one dude at a time? I don’t get it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-mcdonalds-removed-all-the-doors-to-their-public-restroom-stalls-illegal-fixed-title/971755.md?page=4)