Chapter 5.31
PUBLIC LODGING REGISTRATION AND CREDIT CARD USE
Sections:
5.31.02 Registration required.
5.31.03 Use of point-of-sale machine.
5.31.05 Remedies for violation.
5.31.01 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from their context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the meanings hereinafter designated.
(a) “City” means the City of Clovis.
(b) “Public lodging facility” means a hotel or motel, as defined in Chapter 120 of Title 9, and any other lodging house or similar public lodging facility.
(c) “Government issued identification” means a valid driver’s license or identification card issued by the State of California, or by another state or territory of the United States; identification issued by the United States military; or a valid passport issued by the United States or a foreign government.
(d) “Guest” means a person renting a room, or rooms, in a public lodging facility. (§ 1, Ord. 17-14, eff. September 6, 2017)
5.31.02 Registration required.
(a) Every person conducting or owning a public lodging facility in the City shall at all times keep and maintain therein a written register or other permanent document in which shall be entered legibly, either in electronic, ink, or typewritten form, the name and home street and town address of each and every adult guest and person renting a room or area therein, the number of each room or area assigned to or occupied by each such guest, and the time when such room or area is rented. An agent of the public lodging facility shall verify each guest’s name, address, and proof of financial responsibility for the method of payment used by observing or obtaining a copy of a valid government issued identification and shall enter the number of expiration date of the identification presented in the written register or document.
(b) Until all such entries have been made in such register or document, no agent of a public lodging facility shall allow or permit such guest(s) to occupy privately any room or area in such facility. (§ 1, Ord. 17-14, eff. September 6, 2017)
5.31.03 Use of point-of-sale machine.
(a) In order to prevent fraud, where guest payment is made by credit or debit card, such credit or debit card shall be used in a valid point-of-sale machine collecting all appropriate information, and at no time shall credit or debit card information be manually entered. If reservations are made remotely, via internet, telephone, or otherwise, the physical credit or debit card used shall be presented with matching government issued identification at the time of check-in.
(b) Public lodging facilities may accept reservations that are made remotely via a third party vendor, where payment information is not reported to the hotel directly. However, a valid credit or debit card with matching government-issued identification shall be physically presented at the time of check-in and run in a valid point-of-sale machine collecting all appropriate information; and at no time shall credit or debit card information be manually entered.
(c) Reservations made remotely using a credit card authorization form to rent rooms, which are being paid directly to the public lodging facility, may be accepted by the facility; however, a valid credit or debit card with matching government-issued identification shall be physically presented at the time of check-in and run in a valid point-of-sale machine collecting all appropriate information. At no time shall credit or debit card information be manually entered. (§ 1, Ord. 17-14, eff. September 6, 2017)
5.31.04 Signage.
Public lodging facilities are required to display a sign at the primary point of check-in for their establishment which displays the following:
A physical debit or credit card, as well as a valid state issued driver’s license, state issued identification, passport, or military ID must be presented and entered at check in. If the transaction was made prior via internet or telephone, the physical debit or credit card used shall be presented with valid matching identification at the time of check in.
(§ 1, Ord. 17-14, eff. September 6, 2017)
5.31.05 Remedies for violation.
A violation of this chapter shall be subject to the penalty provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 1. (§ 1, Ord. 17-14, eff. September 6, 2017)