[Tupelo]

While passing the closed rest area near Casa Grande last week, I remarked to my wife that there should be some way for rest areas to be leased by a private company and operated at a profit. Free to pee, but snacks, maps and “stuff” for a fee.
I don't have the know how to do it but I would sure like to invest in the company that figures it out.

[Alberta's Child]

That's why Gov. Jan Brewer said she wants Congress to repeal existing laws prohibiting the state from leasing space to private companies that want to open up shop in those rest areas, or letting the companies run the rest stops entirely.

Rest areas on the Interstate Highway System are prohibited by Federal law from carrying out any commercial activities, with very limited exceptions (vending machines, for example). This dates back to a 1959 law aimed at keeping highway authorities from having an economic advantage (as the owner/oeprator of a public right-of-way) over competing private businesses off the highway.

I can't say I disagree with the Federal law in this case. There's no way in hell a private company operating on private property off the highway should ever be put at a competitive disadvantage by a government franchise.