La Puente Municipal Code Ch. 3.52 Public Lodgings

Sections:

• 3.52.010 Findings.

• 3.52.020 Definitions.

• 3.52.030 Immoral acts prohibited.

• 3.52.040 Registration required.

• 3.52.050 Inspection of register, alterations.

• 3.52.060 Registering under fictitious name prohibited.

• 3.52.070 Repeated use of room prohibited.

• 3.52.080 Hourly room rates prohibited.

• 3.52.090 Violations.

*Prior ordinance history: Ord. 512.

The city council of the city of La Puente finds and declares as follows:

(a) The purpose of this chapter is to prevent the development of the types of nuisances described in the California Red Light Abatement Law, Penal Code Sections 11225, et seq.

(b) The regulations set forth in this chapter are reasonably related to the accomplishment of this purpose and will not unduly interfere with the legitimate operation of public lodgings within the city.

(Ord. 790 § 23 (part), 1999)

For purposes of this chapter, unless it is plainly evident from the context that a different meaning is intended, the following definitions shall apply:

“Agent of a public lodging facility” includes: (1) any person who operates, owns or manages a public lodging facility; (2) any and all employees of a public lodging facility or of a person who owns, operates, manages or has control of a public lodging facility; and (3) any other person in charge of or having control over the use of rooms and areas in a public lodging facility.

“Guest” means any individual who rents or occupies a room or area in a public lodging facility.

“Person” means any individual, firm, business, partnership, corporation, cooperative, company, association, joint stock association, church, religious sect, religious denomination, society, organization, or league or any combination of the above in whatever form or character.

“Public lodging facility” means any hotel, motel, inn, lodging-house, rooming-house, boardinghouse, trailer court or similar facility.

(Ord. 790 § 23 (part), 1999)

It is unlawful for any agent of a public lodging facility to knowingly allow, suffer or permit any portion of a public lodging facility to be used as a place of assignation for the purpose of prostitution.

(Ord. 790 § 23 (part), 1999)

Every person conducting or owning a public lodging facility in the city must keep and maintain, at all times, a register or other permanent document, which has inscribed, in ink, the name and home street and town address of each and every guest or person renting or occupying a room or area therein. Such register or document must be signed by each guest, and an agent of the public lodging facility must write opposite each guest’s name(s) the number of each room or area assigned to or occupied by each such guest, together with the time when such room is rented. It is unlawful for any agent of a public lodging facility to allow or permit any guest to occupy privately any room or area in such facility until all such entries have been made in the register or document.

(Ord. 790 § 23 (part), 1999)

It is unlawful for any agent of a public lodging facility to make, or permit to be made, erasures or alterations in any register or document required by Section 3.52.040 of this chapter. This prohibition includes erasing a name or names and address or addresses or permitting or allowing such an erasure. Such register or documents must be kept in a conspicuous place and must be, at all times, open to the inspection of any peace officer for lawful purposes. Such register must be preserved for at least one year after it is filled with registrations or after the discontinuance of its use as a register.

(Ord. 790 § 23 (part), 1999)

It is unlawful for any guest to write, or cause to be written, or knowingly permit to be written, in any register in any public lodging facility any other or different name or designation than the true name of the guest registering therein.

(Ord. 790 § 23 (part), 1999)

It is unlawful for any agent of a public lodging facility to permit more than two occupancies to commence in any room in a twenty-four hour period.

(Ord. 790 § 23 (part), 1999)

It is unlawful for any agent of a public lodging facility to: (a) permit, or cause to be permitted, any occupancy of any room or area for hourly or other short-time rates of less than twenty-four hours; or (b) in any way advertise that any room or area is available at hourly or other short-time rates of less than twenty-four hours.

(Ord. 790 § 23 (part), 1999)

A violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor which is punishable as set forth in Section 1.08.040 of this code.

(Ord. 790 § 23 (part), 1999)