Chapter 8: Enforcement
Regulatory references: 28 CFR 36.501-36.508.
III-8.1000 General.
The ADA establishes two avenues for enforcement of the requirements of
title III --
- Private suits by individuals who are being subjected to discrimination
or who have reasonable grounds for believing that they are about to be
subjected to discrimination.
- Suits by the Department of Justice, whenever it has reasonable
cause to believe that there is a pattern or practice of discrimination,
or discrimination that raises an issue of general public importance.
The Department will investigate complaints and conduct compliance reviews
of covered entities.
Do State or local civil rights agencies have any role in enforcing title
III? There is no provision for State or local civil rights agencies to directly
enforce title III of the ADA. They can, however, enforce State or local laws
that incorporate the standards of the ADA, or they can set up alternative
dispute resolution mechanisms (see III-8.6000).
