Woburn City Council Mandates Hotel Guest Registries

WOBURN, MA — Woburn City Council recently approved an ordinance requiring hotels to confirm and record the identities of guests.

The ordinance was approved without discussion at the council's April 6 meeting. It will go into effect when signed by Mayor Scott Galvin.

The hotel guest registry ordinance was written by the city solicitor in collaboration with the police department, the Daily Times Chronicle reported. The city's license commission also supported the move.

"In conjunction with the Woburn Police Dept., the License Commission has over the past several months endeavored to monitor activity at hotels in the city, to enhance safety for police officers who are responding to disturbance calls and hotel guests alike," the commission said in a letter to the council. "Requiring identification from all hotel guests upon registration will allow for better regulation and oversight by the License Commission and the Woburn Police Dept."

Council members said at their March 16 meeting that at least one hotel has had recent issues including guests fighting. The ordinance was fast-tracked, skipping the committee process and proceeding directly to a vote on its second appearance before the council.

Guests must provide identification such as a driver's license or a passport and hotels must record their ID type, their ID number, their name, their home address and their vehicle description and license plate information.

The full meeting is available here from Woburn Public Media Center.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.