Woman In Scooter Upset Over Refused Drive-Thru Service

A Minnesota woman is upset after being refused drive-thru service at a 24-hour White Castle because she was riding in an electric mobility scooter and not a car.

Ariel Wade, 37, says she was told that the drive-thrus were for licensed motor vehicles only and so they couldn't serve her.

But Wade, who uses the scooter because of degenerative arthritis in her back, says the policy discriminates against people who don't or can't drive.

The White Castle dining room closed at 11 PM, so she had no choice but to order her Slyders through the drive-thru.

Complimentary burgers and consoling words from the district manager the next day haven't stopped Wade from taking her gripe to a law firm that advocates for the disabled. And her dispute could now test a relatively uncharted area of disability law.

"You can try to butter me up all you want to. Free meals ain't going to work," Wade tells the 'Star Tribune'. "I want to make sure they don't discriminate against another person."

The Minnesota Disability Law Center is weighing whether to take on Wade's case. One attorney says the policy strikes him as inconsistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"I would argue if you're open 24 hours, you need to be accessible and provide accessibility 24 hours," says Justin Page.

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