Chapter 9.30
HOTEL, MOTEL, AND LODGING HOUSE REGISTRATION REGULATIONS
Sections:
9.30.030 Registration identification required.
9.30.040 Multiple renting or letting prohibition.
9.30.050 Signing of true name.
9.30.010 Purpose and scope.
The purpose of this chapter is to deter the facilitation of prostitution, illicit drug activity, and other illegal activities within the City by regulating registration practices in hotels, motels, and other lodging houses. (Ord. 744 § 1, 2012)
9.30.020 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases are defined as set forth below:
A. “Hotel” means any structure or portion of any structure which is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by transients for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes, including any hotel, inn, tourist home, or house, motel, studio hotel, bachelor hotel, lodging house, rooming house, apartment house, dormitory, public or private club, mobile home, motor home, travel trailer, or house trailer at a fixed location, or other similar structure or portion thereof.
B. “Operator” means the person who is the proprietor of the hotel, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee or any other capacity. Where the operator performs his or her functions through a managing agent of any type or character other than an employee, the managing agent shall also be deemed an operator for the purposes of this chapter and shall have the same duties and liabilities as his or her principal. Compliance with the provisions of this chapter by either the principal or the managing agent shall, however, be considered to be compliance by both.
C. “Room” means any area within a hotel intended for use as dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes. “Room” does not mean any area within a hotel not intended for use as sleeping or lodging quarters such as meeting or conference rooms.
D. “Transient” means any person possessing any room or portion thereof in any hotel for dwelling, lodging, sleeping or any other purpose, or possessing the right to do the same for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days. (Ord. 744 § 1, 2012)
9.30.030 Registration identification required.
A. Every operator of every hotel in the City shall at all times keep and maintain therein a register, in which the operator shall inscribe with ink the name, address, and date of birth of the adult transient who registers for a room or rooms. Concurrent with the registration process, the adult transient who registers for a room or rooms must provide to the operator a valid picture identification. Valid picture identification includes a valid driver’s license, federal or state government or military identification card, passport, or any form of identification that contains the transient’s picture, current address, and date of birth. The type of picture identification provided to the operator shall be noted in the register and include the document’s identification number and the state or country of issuance. Additionally, the adult transient who registers for a room or rooms will be asked to provide the representatives for the hotels, motels, and lodging houses with the number of adults who will be occupying such room or rooms.
B. At the time of registration, the operator shall inquire of each transient, and include in the register, the make and model of the transient’s vehicle as well as the license plate number. If more convenient to the guest, he or she will be asked to provide the front desk with this information at his or her convenience but prior to the termination of the period for which the room (or rooms) was let.
C. Such register shall be signed by the transient and such operator shall thereupon write opposite such name and address so registered the number of each room assigned thereto together with the time of such inscription. Until all of the aforementioned entries, except vehicle information, have been made in such register, no transient shall be permitted to occupy any room in any hotel in the City. Erasures or alterations on the register shall be prohibited excepting correction of an error, and no person shall erase or obliterate any name or address or permit the same. When the transient quits or surrenders any room in any hotel, the operator of the hotel shall enter the time thereof in the register opposite the name of such transient.
D. Registration records shall be maintained electronically for not less than three years from inscription and shall be available for reasonable inspection by City officials or any peace officer. (Ord. 744 § 1, 2012)
9.30.040 Multiple renting or letting prohibition.
No operator shall rent or let any room in any hotel more than once within an eight-hour time period. (Ord. 744 § 1, 2012)
9.30.050 Signing of true name.
No person shall write or cause to be written, nor shall any operator or person in charge of any hotel knowingly permit to be written, in any register of any hotel any name other than the true name of the person so registering. (Ord. 744 § 1, 2012)
9.30.060 Violation – Penalty.
Any violation of any provision contained in this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and/or 12 months in the county jail. (Ord. 744 § 1, 2012)