Some towns are enacting laws that give the police authority to search the hotel registry records of guests without proper cause. For any reason, the hotel can be ordered to turn over a list of guests and even personal information such as credit card numbers.

New Jersey courts take privacy very seriously. Recently, a court ruled that computer users could now expect their personal information shared with Internet providers to remain private. The court stated:

"New Jersey is among the few states to have found an implied right to privacy in its state charter."

The court also concluded that a proper subpoena or search warrant is required to obtain private information.

In the state of Washington, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is currently challenging the practice of police routinely examining the records of guests staying in hotels. The ACLU argues that "Hotel registration records are private and that police may not access those records without reasonable suspicion of a crime" and further explains, "People should be able to stay in a hotel without worrying about being the subject of government tracking when there is no suspicion of wrongdoing."

Point Pleasant Beach recently enacted a hotel registry law and Tinton Falls just introduced a similar measure. In the past, courts have ruled that people have an expectation of privacy in a hotel room and I believe this should not be infringed upon. If information is required for an investigation, then a court order should be issued.

This provides a needed check and balance system that our great country was founded on and makes sure private information is kept confidential.

Michael Skudera

Tinton Falls councilman