SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 890
89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR MATHEWSON.
Read 1st time February 9, 1998, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
L3848.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 315, RSMo, by adding five new sections relating to the rights and obligations of innkeepers and guests.
Section A. Chapter 315, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto five new sections to be known as sections 315.067, 315.069, 315.075, 315.077 and 315.079, to read as follows:
315.067. 1. For purposes of sections 315.067 to 315.079, "hotel" shall have the same meaning as lodging establishment as defined in section 315.005.
2. A person operating a hotel, may refuse or deny the use of a room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel to any of the following:
(1) An individual who is unwilling or unable to pay for the room, accommodations, facilities, or other privileges of the hotel;
(2) An individual who is visibly intoxicated, under the influence of alcohol or other drug, and is disorderly so as to create a public nuisance;
(3) An individual who the hotel operator reasonably believes is seeking to use a room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel for an unlawful purpose;
(4) An individual who the hotel operator reasonably believes is bringing in anything which may create an unreasonable danger or risk to other persons, including but not limited to unlawful use of firearms or explosives;
(5) An individual whose use of the room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel would result in a violation of the maximum capacity of such hotel.
3. A hotel operator who reasonably refuses or denies the use of a room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel pursuant to this section shall not be subject to any civil or criminal action or any fine or other penalty.
315.069. The hotel operator may require a person seeking the use of a room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel to demonstrate his or her ability to pay for such use by cash, credit card or approved check. The hotel operator may require the parent or guardian of a person under the age of eighteen to:
(1) Accept in writing the liability for the cost of the room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel used by the person, and the cost of any damages to the room, furnishings in the room or other facilities of the hotel caused by the person while using the room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel;
(2) Provide the hotel operator with one of the following:
(a) The authority to charge the amount due for the cost of the room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel used by the person, and the cost of any damages to the room, furnishings in the room or other facilities of the hotel caused by the person while using the room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel to a credit card used by a person under the age of eighteen. The granting of such authority shall be deemed a waiver of any defense based upon the age of such person which may be raised by the minor or the person authorizing the use of the credit card; or
(b) An advance cash payment sufficient to cover the cost of the room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel used by the person, and a reasonable amount as a deposit toward the cost of any damages to the room, furnishings in the room or other facilities of the hotel caused by the person while using the room, accommodations, facilities or other privileges of the hotel. A cash deposit for any damages required by the hotel operator shall be promptly refunded to the extent not used to cover the cost of any such damages as determined by the hotel operator following an inspection of the room, accommodations or facilities of the hotel used by the person at the end of his or her stay.
315.075. An owner or operator of a hotel may eject a person from the hotel and notify the appropriate local law enforcement authorities for any of the following reasons:
(1) Nonpayment of charges incurred by the individual renting or leasing a room, accommodations or facilities of the hotel when the charges are due and owing;
(2) The individual renting or leasing a room, accommodations or facilities of the hotel is visibly intoxicated, under the influence of alcohol or other drug and is disorderly so as to create a public nuisance;
(3) The owner or operator reasonably believes that the individual is using the premises for an unlawful purpose;
(4) The owner or operator reasonably believes that the individual has brought something into the hotel which may create an unreasonable danger or risk to other persons, including but not limited to unlawful use of firearms or explosives; and
(5) The individual is in violation of any federal, state or local laws or regulations relating to the hotel.
315.077. An owner or operator of a hotel shall post a copy of sections 315.067 to 315.079, in addition to any rules established by the owner or operator of the hotel, in a conspicuous place at or near the guest registration desk and in each room of the hotel.
315.079. 1. Each individual renting or leasing a room, accommodations or facilities of the hotel shall register and may be required by the owner or operator of the hotel to show proof of identity by producing a valid driver's license, other identification issued by the state or other identification satisfactory to the owner or operator. If the individual is under the age of eighteen, the owner or operator may also require a parent or guardian of the person to register.
2. The guest registry may be kept and maintained by recording, copying or reproducing the registry by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic, electronic imaging, electronic data processing or other process which accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for accurately and legibly reproducing an unaltered image or reproduction of the original.