LA County Supports Police Search Of Hotel Guest Records

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County will file a motion with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting an argument by the city of Los Angeles that police should be allowed to inspect hotel guest registries on demand without a warrant.

The Board of Supervisors passed the resolution on Tuesday.

The motion says Los Angeles police have used such warrantless searches to combat sexual exploitation of children at hotels and motels.

If business operators didn't allow police inspection of the guest registries, operators faced arrest and a fine of up to $1,000 under a nuisance abatement measure.

The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled last year that such non-consensual inspection was akin to a Fourth Amendment search and officers couldn't penalize business operators without allowing them a chance to contest the demand.

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