N.Y. AG Schneiderman settles with Yankee Trails

NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced an Americans with Disabilities Act-related settlement on Tuesday with a national bus company to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to transportation.

Yankee Trails, a national bus company offering transportation services throughout the Northeast, allegedly placed unlawful and significant barriers on New York customers with disabilities. Under the terms of the settlement, Yankee Trails will remove the barriers and deal with its customer requests in compliance with the law.

"Equal access to transportation is essential to ensuring that people with disabilities across our state are able to work, attend school, seek medical attention and enjoy a full and independent life," Schneiderman said. "This agreement helps put other companies on notice that violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act will not be tolerated."

The Rensselaer-based Yankee Trails allegedly required customers with disabilities to submit written request for accessible transport seven days prior to traveling on its buses. The company also allegedly demanded proof of the person's disability, usually in the form of a hanging tag or handicap sticker, prior to agreeing to provide accessible transportation. The allegations are burdensome and against the law.

The agreement requires Yankee Trails to put new policies into practice that are consistent with obligations under the ADA and give training to all employees about the ADA.