Hotels making a copy of guests' licenses is a law?

[spedtr90]

Anyone ever heard of this before?

Recently stayed at a motel in Roseville. Have stayed there before, but this time they asked for my husband's driver's license in order to photocopy it. When asked why, they said it was the law although they had not done it before, and the police were enforcing it. Apparently the police can stop in and go through the copied licenses for persons of interest. Motel staff said they shred the copies later. I can't believe this is legal. At the very least it puts a guest's private information at risk of identity theft by a dishonest employee or through poor security.
Wondering now - if we had refused would they have turned us away? If we were allowed to stay would police have paid us a visit?

Thoughts?? Anyone have the facts?

[MineralMan]

1. There's no Minnesota law I can find that requires that

guests present identification for copying. There may be a municipal ordinance, however, in Roseville. I'll check.

[MineralMan]

2. Nope. No Roseville, MN city ordinance requiring that, either.

It's a hotel policy. The next time, ask the hotel desk to call the police and ask the policeman who comes what law it is that requires that the hotel make a copy of your driver's licence. The hotel will simply drop the issue and check you in. If they refuse, call the police yourself and have them come and get an explanation of why the hotel is not allowing you to check in.

I'll tell you what this sounds like to me. They have your credit card information. With that and your driver's licence they could probably bag some goodies on your tab. I'd suspect the clerk who checked you in.

You can always give the police there a call and see what they say, after the fact. I'm betting they'll tell you you don't have to show shit to the hotel.

[MineralMan]

3. Check this site:

It's a Motel 6 site for Roseville. It says that the ID requirement is Hotel Policy.

[spedtr90]

4. Not where I stayed...

...but even if it had been they would be lying to say it was the law the police were enforcing by checking the copies they make.

[MineralMan]

6. So it appears. I was just posting that to demonstrate that some

hotels have a policy like that. It's not required by any laws, though, that I know of.

[spedtr90]

5. Appreciate your research

Thank you!

[Jenoch]

7. They may have a policy

to photocopy your DL upon check-in, but what I would do is to ask to see the copy they made and then scratch out your birthdate and DL number with a pen. They can have your name and address. I usually write down the license plate number of a random car in the parking lot as well. I really don't have anything to hide, but they don't need to know the make and model of my auto. I suppose if I were going to be staying for several nights it might be a different matter, but not for one or two nights.