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. 2006-1048 § 1)
For the purpose of Sections
9.70.010 through
9.70.060, the following words and phrases are defined as set forth below:
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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. 2006-1048 § 1)
No operator shall rent or let any room in any hotel more than
once within an eight-hour time period.
(Ord. 2006-1048 § 1)
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. 2006-1048 § 1)
Any violation of any provision contained in this chapter shall
constitute a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a $1,000.00 fine
and/or 12 months in the County Jail.
(Ord. 2006-1048 § 1)