Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN V. AZZARITI JR., M.D.
District 39 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Myhre
SYNOPSIS
Requires hotels, motels, rooming and boarding houses, and similar lodging businesses, to check valid government-issued identification at check-in.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring hotels, motels, and similar lodging businesses to check valid government-issued identification card from guests at check-in and supplementing P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.) and P.L.1979, c.496 (C.55:13B-1 et al.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. An officer, agent, or employee of a hotel, or retreat lodging facility shall verify a guest’s valid government-issued identification upon the guest’s check-in, for the purpose of verifying the identity of the guest, by physically checking or scanning the guest’s government-issued identification card. Valid government-issued identification shall include, but is not limited to, a valid driver’s license, passport, identification card, or REAL ID, or similar identification issued by a governmental entity.
b. A hotel or retreat lodging facility shall maintain a register in which the names and residences, the date of arrival and departure of the guests, and the room or rooms occupied by the guests shall be entered. A record contained in the register shall be maintained, and shall not be disposed of for at least one year following the guest’s departure.
2. a. An officer, agent, or employee of a rooming or boarding house shall verify a resident’s valid government-issued identification upon the resident’s check-in, for the purpose of verifying the identity of the resident, by physically checking or scanning the resident’s government-issued identification card. Valid government-issued identification shall include, but is not limited to, a valid driver’s license, passport, identification card, or REAL ID, or similar identification issued by a governmental entity.
b. A rooming or boarding house shall maintain a register in which the names and residences, the date of arrival and departure of the residents, and the room or rooms occupied by the residents shall be entered. A record contained in the register shall be maintained, and shall not be disposed of for at least one year following the resident’s departure.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the second month next following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires hotels,
rooming and boarding houses, and retreat lodging facilities, to check a guest’s
or resident’s valid government-issued identification at check-in. The term "hotel,"
as
defined in the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76
(C.55:13A-1 et seq.), which is supplemented by this bill, includes motels under
current law.
The bill requires an officer, agent, or employee of a hotel, rooming and boarding house, or retreat lodging facility, to verify a guest’s or resident’s identity by physically checking or scanning the identification card. Valid identification is to include, but is not limited to, a valid driver’s license, passport, identification card, or REAL ID.
Upon verification of the identification card, the hotel, rooming and boarding house, or retreat lodging facility is required to maintain a register of guests. This list is to include the names and addresses, the date of arrival and departure of the guests, and the room or rooms occupied. This bill ensures the verification of the guest’s identity upon hotel or lodging check-in and reduces anonymous check-ins in an effort to prevent human trafficking. The bill requires a record contained in the register to be maintained, and not disposed of, for at least one year following the guest or resident’s departure.
The bill is to take effect on the first day of the second month following enactment.