SCOTUS Will Review City Law Authorizing Warrantless Police Inspection of Hotel Guest Registries

The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that
it will hear arguments later this term in Los Angeles v.
Patel, a case asking whether a city law which says that hotel
guest registries “shall be made available to any officer of the Los
Angeles Police Department for inspection” without consent or
warrant violates the Fourth Amendment.

According to Los Angeles officials, restricting this power would

jeopardize the ability of the police to “investigate crimes
such as prostitution and gambling, capture dangerous fugitives and
even authorize federal law enforcement to examine these registers,
an authorization which can be vital in the immediate aftermath of a
homeland terrorist attack.” The city is urging the Supreme Court to
overturn a 2013
decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit,
which ruled against the L.A. statute, holding that hotels have an
expectation of privacy in their guest registries under the Fourth
Amendment.

Oral argument in Los Angeles v. Patel will be scheduled
at a later date.