Spotlight BUSINESS Using some restrooms costs money. How it works and why businesses use them Cheryl V. Jackson Indianapolis Star Jun 28, 2026 Jun 28, 2026 Updated Jul 17, 2026 0 The Flush-Locks smart lock allows businesses to charge for access to bathrooms using cashless payments. Flush-Locks Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Cheryl V. Jackson Indianapolis Star The next time you want to use a restroom in a restaurant, you might have to reach for your wallet.kAm$>2CE =@4< DE2CEFA u=FD9 {@4<D :D :?DE2==:?8 42D9=6DD A2J>6?E DJDE6>D @? E96 5@@CD @7 32E9C@@>D 2E D>2== C6DE2FC2?ED[ 4276D 2?5 DF49 E92E FDF2==J =:>:E 2446DD E@ E96:C 724:=:E:6D E@ 4FDE@>6CD]k^AmkAmqFD:?6DD6D FD:?8 E96 =@4<D 42? @AE E@ 92G6 E96 56G:46D 2446AE 2446DD 4@56D AC@G:565 E@ 4FDE@>6CD[ 4C65:E 2?5 563:E 42C5 A2J>6?ED @C >@3:=6 56G:46 A2J>6?ED]k^AmkAmu=FD9 {@4<D @H?6CD D2J :EVD 2 8@@5 7:E 7@C 9:89\7@@E\EC277:4 2C62D DF49 2D :? r9:428@ 2?5 }6H ~C=62?D[ 2D H6== 2D ?62C >2;@C DA@CED 2?5 @E96C 6G6?ED DF49 2D }6H *62CVD tG6 :? }6H *@C<’D %:>6D $BF2C6]k^Am People are also reading… Denison woman dies, Lincoln driver seriously injured in western Iowa crash One TV weather team – two devastating diagnoses Will winter be snowy, stormy or mild? Farmers' Almanac forecast by region Is Iowa losing its religion? Church closures mount in rural communities AJ Pritchard wins over Shirley Ballas on ‘DWTS: The Next Pro’ How did freshman quarterback Tradon Bessinger landed at Iowa and why is he turning heads If the Chicago Bears are going to Indiana, then go already Corporate political donations shatter record at $646M Nebraska lights up ‘Lanterns,’ a new TV Western After two years of learning, Jenna Meitzler is ready to lead Iowa volleyball’s offense As Europe bakes, momentum grows for climate-resilient farming Four Iowa nurses are accused of putting patients at risk Iowa football faces rare overhaul on special teams in 2026 Climate change reshaping daily life in Europe’s hottest town St. Luke’s patient accused of destroying $50,000 worth of computer systems kAmp? 2AA H:== 2==@H FD6CD E@ 7:?5 2G2:=23=6 E@:=6ED[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96:C 4@DED 2?5 C2E:?8D] &D6CD 2=D@ >:89E 36 23=6 E@ A2J 2E 2 C68:DE6C E@ @3E2:? 2446DD 4@56D @C 3JA2DD E96 4@F?E6C 2?5 8@ 5:C64E=J E@ E96 724:=:E:6D]k^AmkAm“%9:D 2==@HD E96> E@ 4@?EC@= E96 5@@C =@4< 3J 92G:?8 2 A2:5 2446DD 4@56 7@C 2?J@?6 H9@ :D ?@E 2 4FDE@>6C[ 2D H6== 2D 8:G:?8 2 4@56 E@ J@FC 24EF2= 4FDE@>6CD[” D2:5 u=@J5 uC66>2?[ H9@ 7@F?565 E96 q@F=56C[ r@=@C25@\32D65 DE2CEFA H:E9 9:D H:76[ |2C:D@= uC66>2?] “(:E9 E96 ?:89E=:76 @? 2 uC:52J ?:89E[ H96C6 A6@A=6 2C6 H2=<:?8 7C@> E96 DEC66E 2?5 E96J ;FDE >:89E ?665 E@ 8@ E@ E96 C6DEC@@>] ‘x 5@?’E ?665 2 5C:?<] x 5@?VE ?665 2 4@7766]V %96J’C6 ;FDE =@@<:?8 7@C 2 A=246 E@ =6E E96> FD6 :E 7@C 2 5@==2C @C EH@]”k^Am kAmu=FD9 {@4<D[ H9:49 >2<6D >@?6J E9C@F89 C6G6?F6 DA=:ED H:E9 E96 6DE23=:D9>6?ED[ :D A:=@E:?8 E96 56G:46 :? r@=@C25@]k^AmkAm%96 4@FA=6 8@E E96 :562 7@C E96 3FD:?6DD 27E6C E96J 925 EC@F3=6 7:?5:?8 2 32E9C@@> E@ 492?86 E96:C 323J’D 5:2A6C] %96J 6?565 FA DA6?5:?8 23@FE Sd 7@C 2 D@52 E@ 82:? 2446DD E@ 2 E@:=6E]k^AmkAm“pE >@DE C6DE2FC2?ED[ H6 2C6 7:?5:?8 E96J 5@?VE H2?E E@ @A6? E96 C6DEC@@>D E@ ;FDE 2?J@?6 3642FD6 E96J 5@?VE <?@H H9@VD :? E96C6[” 96 D2:5] “!6@A=6 23FD6 E96>] %96J 2C6?VE 2== A2J:?8 4FDE@>6CD[ D@ :E 364@>6D 2 4@DE]”k^Am kAm“qFD:?6DD6D 5@?VE H2?E E@ E2<6 @? E92E 3FC56?[Q 96 D2:5] Q(6VG6 D9:7E65 2H2J 7C@> :E E@ H96C6 E96C6VD ;FDE ?@ 2446DD] xE’D 364@>6 ?@H H96C6 H6’C6 ;FDE =@4<65 @FE] %96 @?=J H2J H6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 23=6 E@ FD6 C6DEC@@>D :D E@ A2J 7:7EJ 46?ED E@ 2 3F4<]”k^Am k9am}@E 2 ?6H EC6?5k^9amkAm%96 4@?46AE @7 A2J E@:=6ED :D?VE ?6H[ 3FE A2:5 724:=:E:6D :? E96 &]$] DE2CE65 364@>:?8 =6DD 4@>>@? :? E96 `hf_D] %96J’C6 >@C6 3C@25=J FD65 :? @E96C 4@F?EC:6D[ 3FE >256 2 3:E @7 2 4@>6324< 96C6]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmxDC26=\9625BF2CE6C65 7:?E649 4@>A2?J }2J2I[ 7@F?565 :? a__d[ D@=5 42D9=6DD A2J>6?E DJDE6>D 7@C E@:=6ED :? E96 &]$] 7@C 23@FE 2 564256]k^Am kAmx?5:2?2A@=:D\32D65 }:<\~\{@<[ H9:49 92D AC@G:565 4@:?\ 2?5 E@<6?\4@?EC@==65 32E9C@@> =@4<D E@ 3FD:?6DD6D D:?46 `h`_[ D2H 3FD:?6DD D9C:?< 5FC:?8 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4 H96? C6DE2FC2?ED 5:5?VE C6DF>6 5:?6\:? D6CG:46[ @H?6C #@3 &?E6C3@C? D2:5]k^Am kAmw6 D2:5 96 4@?E:?F6D E@ D66 DE625J 3FD:?6DD 7C@> =2F?5C@>2ED[ 72DE\7@@5 C6DE2FC2?ED 2?5 82D DE2E:@?D E@52J[ H:E9 :ED =2C86DE >2C<6ED :? r2=:7@C?:2 2?5 pC:K@?2]k^Am kAm“xE’D 2?@E96C D@FC46 @7 C6G6?F6 H96C6 J@F 42? 492C86 D@>6@?6 d_ 46?ED @C 2 3F4< H96C6 D@>6@?6 92D E@ D42? :7 J@F H2?E E@ FD6 E96 724:=:EJ[” &?E6C3@C? D2:5] “qFE x 5@?VE D66 E9:D E2<:?8 @77 :? 2 EC2;64E@CJ H96C6 E96C6’D 2 DE66A :?4C62D6 :? 56>2?5 @C 2 DE66A 564C62D6] xE’D 366? 2 G6CJ 4@?D:DE6?E 3FD:?6DD 52J\:? 2?5 52J\@FE 7@C E96 =2DE `_ J62CD]”k^AmkAm&?E6C3@C?[ d`[ H2D 2? 6I64FE:G6 @7 E96 4@>A2?J 367@C6 96 2?5 9:D H:76[ z2E9=66? &?E6C3@C?[ AFC492D65 :E :? a_a`]k^Am kAm“*@F 5@?’E ?646DD2C:=J 92G6 E@ A2J E@ FD6 E96 724:=:E:6D[ 3FE J@F 92G6 E@ A2EC@?:K6 E96 3FD:?6DD :? @C56C E@ FD6 E96 724:=:E:6D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am k9am(9J E96 D9:7Enk^9amkAm#6BF:C:?8 A2:5 2446DD E@ 32E9C@@>D 2AA62=D E@ 3FD:?6DD6D E92E D66< E@ =6DD6? E96 492?46D @7 G2?52=:D>[ C65F46 4=62?FA E:>6 2?5 56E6C @E96C :==682= 24E:G:E:6D[ &?E6C3@C? D2:5]k^Am kAmx? 42D6D @7 325 3692G:@C[ =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 42? @3E2:? :?7@C>2E:@? 7C@> 4C65:E 42C5 A2J>6?E AC@46DD@CD E@ 96=A :56?E:7J FD6CD H:E9:? 2 E2C86E65 A6C:@5[ uC66>2?[ cf[ D2:5]k^AmkAm“xE 8:G6D E96> E96 D64FC:EJ E@ <?@H E92E :7 E96J 2==@H D@>63@5J E@ FD6 E96:C C6DEC@@>D E92E’D ?@E 2 4FDE@>6C[ 2E =62DE E96J 42? DE:== 4@==64E 52E2 3J 92G:?8 E9:D 2G2:=23=6[” 96 D2:5] “x7 D@>63@5J 23FD6D 2 C6DEC@@>[ E96J’C6 =:<6[ Vw6J[ H9@ FD65 E9:D C6DEC@@> 2E E9C66 @’4=@4<nV p?5 E96J 42? 7:?5 @FE :7 E92E H2D 2 G2?52=:D> D46?2C:@j E96J 42? 24EF2==J C64@FA D@>6 @7 E92E :?7@C>2E:@?]”k^Am kAm#6DE2FC2?ED 42? 492?86 E96 AC:46D[ A@E6?E:2==J :?4C62D:?8 E96> 7@C A2CE:4F=2C=J 9:89\G@=F>6 A6C:@5D[ 3FE uC66>2? D2:5 96 H2?ED E@ 2G@:5 AC:46 8@F8:?8]k^AmkAm“x 9@A6 E96 AC@5F4E 5@6D?’E 364@>6 D@>6E9:?8 E92E E2<6D 25G2?E286 @7 A6@A=6j x H@F=5 92E6 E@ D66 :? }6H *@C< A6@A=6 492C8:?8 b_ E@ c_ 5@==2CD 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 8@ E@ E96 32E9C@@>[” 96 D2:5] “~?6 @7 >J A=2?D :D E@ 4@?EC@= E92E 2?5 >2<6 DFC6 3FD:?6DD6D 92G6 E96 C:89E E@ 492C86 H92E E96J 766= :D 72:C] qFE 2=D@ E96J 92G6 E@ 36 :? =:?6]”k^Am 0 Comments Related to this story South Korean shops turn to robots, self-service to escape labor woes Unstaffed coffee shops, ramen eateries and flower outlets are spreading across South Korea as owners turn to robots and self-service to overco… Pack These Essential Medicines For Your Next Vacation Health issues can strike anywhere, even on summer vacation. Headaches, colds, and stomach pains are not uncommon while traveling. Stay prepare… These brands pulled back on Pride. It could cost them. Here's why Pride Month has suffered corporate defections since gay and transgender rights emerged as a culture-war flashpoint and the Trump administratio… They make American flags. Here's what it means to them Annin Flagmakers bills itself as the oldest and largest manufacturer of the Star-Spangled Banner in the United States. For America's 250th birthday, consider a trip through US history Here are seven standout destinations that make history fun and unforgettable. Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video What will it take for Canada and the U.S. to return to the negotiating table? | Hanomansing Tonight Florida Watches Dolly as Storm Tracks Caribbean Florida Watches Dolly as Storm Tracks Caribbean US Reopens Border To Mexican Cattle Since Trade Halt US Reopens Border To Mexican Cattle Since Trade Halt What Trump’s trade war could cost Americans What Trump’s trade war could cost Americans
South Korean shops turn to robots, self-service to escape labor woes Unstaffed coffee shops, ramen eateries and flower outlets are spreading across South Korea as owners turn to robots and self-service to overco…
Pack These Essential Medicines For Your Next Vacation Health issues can strike anywhere, even on summer vacation. Headaches, colds, and stomach pains are not uncommon while traveling. Stay prepare…
These brands pulled back on Pride. It could cost them. Here's why Pride Month has suffered corporate defections since gay and transgender rights emerged as a culture-war flashpoint and the Trump administratio…
They make American flags. Here's what it means to them Annin Flagmakers bills itself as the oldest and largest manufacturer of the Star-Spangled Banner in the United States.
For America's 250th birthday, consider a trip through US history Here are seven standout destinations that make history fun and unforgettable.