Laws requiring identification at hotel check-in

I have worked in hotels for over 30 years, and the main reason for requiring an ID is that you are entering a legally binding contract when you rent a room. The hotel is allowing you use of the room for a rate, and you are agreeing to abide by the hotels policies and procedures while doing so, things such as not smoking in a room, etc. As such, the hotel must verify who they are renting a room to. Without legal ID, they could be doing a contract with anyone and it would not hold up in court.

I was working in Las Vegas shortly after the Riviera fire, because they didn’t have identification for a lot of people it took a lot longer for victims that didn’t survive to be identified. if there’s an emergency in your hotel and If for some unseen circumstance happens and they need to identify who is supposed to be In which room it helps if you have a photo ID to identify.

I have checked into a motel without even being asked for ID. I had pulled off the highway to get a night’s sleep, stopped in a place I had stayed a few times previously (but long ago, I wasn’t recognized) and asked about the price of a bed for the night as I didn’t feel it was safe pressing on to <city 2 hours further on.> I paid cash and that was that. Note that I am middle aged, there was no minibar or the like and I looked like a tired traveler, not someone would would be trouble.

Really for safety of all guests besides an ID/correct guest information, knowing the names and number of occupants of all individuals occupying rooms is important….but seldom obtained. In case of fire/disaster we need to be able to account for the people staying to authorities. Major chains have lost law suits because of fire etc. where a child was not accounted for and died in the property fire and the distraught parents sued…

I know I am a bit late in answering this question but most hotels will require ID at the time of check-in based on local/state laws and hotel policy.

Hotels will photo copy your ID to keep on file in the event that law enforcement may need it due to an incident that could occur. Human trafficking is a big factor when it comes to this. Usually if you have a guest who engages in illegal activities, they will choose not to stay at your location because of the chance of being identified. Checking the ID helps for the safety of fellow guests and reduces the liability on the hotel. Other than that the ID is used to verify your credit card as well.

Honestly, if a hotel isn’t asking for your ID, then they have no real way of knowing who is coming or going in their rooms. Its for your safety and the safety of others. I’ve turned guests away for refusing to present ID. I understand it may be uncomfortable for some, but its to safeguard everyone.

In addition to covering the incidental deposit for charges made to the room (gift shop, restaurant, etc), the card needs to be on the file in the event of actual damages to the room/property. Most US hotels have about a $50.00 incidental deposit at check in. If you pay that in cash, but cause damages that exceed that amount, the hotel is left to cover the expenses. For example, at my property, if you smoke in your room there is a $250 cleaning fee.

Excessive or not, we can’t get the additional $200 if there is no card on file. Additionally, more often than not, the room will not be checked until after the guest is gone. If the guest checks out before housekeeping can inspect the room for damages, the front desk can’t check the room, so they will more than likely give the guest the $50 deposit before the room is even inspected.

The part about guaranteeing your room is so that in the event of a No-Show or Early Departure the hotel can still collect payment for any non-advance deposit reservations.

tl;dr – The hotel needs to have a card on file in the event there are charges beyond the original incidental deposit. If this deposit were to be made in cash and charges exceed the cash deposited, the hotel would have no way of getting payment. If there’s a card on file, they can always at least attempt to charge that card for more, if need be.

I have worked in hotels for 4 years. Any major hotel chain such as Marriott or Hilton will require a Credit Card and a matching ID at check in, even if you intend to pay cash. This is done in case the room is severally damaged, or more commonly, if guests smoke in a non smoking room. This way the hotel has a card on file to cover the charges. However, even at motels that accept cash upfront, such as Motel 6, an ID is required to ensure the potential guest is of legal age to rent the room and for emergency/legal situations. Should a guest have a medical emergency where they are incapacitated, such as a seizure or an overdose, the hotel needs to know said persons identity so that it can be provided to authorities. Hope that clears things up.

I know that in many non-US countries they require identification to
check into hotels. However, in the United States I am not aware of any
laws that require this. Do they exist?

Yes:

According to Massachussets legislature:

Section 27. Every innholder, and every lodging house keeper required
so to do under section twenty-eight, and every person who shall
conduct, control, manage or operate, directly or indirectly, any
recreational camp, overnight camp or cabin, motel or manufactured
housing community shall keep or cause to be kept, in permanent form, a
register in which shall be recorded the true name or name in ordinary
use and the residence of every person engaging or occupying a private
room averaging less than four hundred square feet floor area,
excepting a private dining room not containing a bed or couch, or
opening into a room containing a bed or couch, for any period of the
day or night in any part of the premises controlled by the licensee,
together with a true and accurate record of the room assigned to such
person and of the day and hour when such room is assigned.

I would imagine that legal advice has been sought by hotels and that lawyers have suggested that hotels seek official identification in order to comply with this.

In Los Angeles, an ordinance specifically targets cash or walk-in guests:

4. Renting of Hotel Rooms. The operator of a hotel shall not rent a room except in compliance with the following conditions. (a) A guest
   who pays all or part of the rent for a room in cash at the time of
   checking in, and a walk-in guest, shall be required to present an
   identification document or a housing voucher at the time of checking
   into the hoteL.

Also Tennessee has proposed a similar bill:

Hotels and Restaurants – As introduced, mandates lodging
establishments maintain a guest register providing the name, address,
date of birth, copy of a state or federally issued photo
identification and vehicle registration information of every guest
staying at the hotel; requires the hotel copy the photo ID; authorizes
law enforcement personnel to inspect the registration records for law
enforcement purposes.

Your next question:

I have had similar conversations at several different hotels. What is
going on here? Is there some secret law or something that hotels have
to record your identity in the United States?

I cannot find any evidence of any federal law regarding this and due to the other legislation found, it is unlikely that any exists that is not localised.

Maybe a better question would be: is it possible to check into a hotel
in the United States without a driver’s license and credit card?

I would advise you to check the booking conditions of the hotel before you attempt to check-in, for example, the hotel you list states in their FAQ (bolded text is bolded question from hotel page FAQ):

Is my ID/passport required at check in?
Yes, a valid government
issued picture ID is required for Hotel Check-in.

and

What forms of payment are accepted to pay for my room?
A valid credit
card is required to check in to the hotel, but guests may use cash or
credit card at check-out to settle their bill.

No, there’s nothing suspicious going on here and there is no national and very few if any state or local laws requiring ID to get a room.

What you experienced is most likely a hotel policy requiring credit/debit card for a deposit and possible that desk clerk not knowing how to hold a cash deposit if the hotel allows it.

Based on you conversation, the issue was not ID to check it, but requiring a credit card which requires ID.

Just ask to see a Manager. They will either process the case deposit or tell you that a credit card is required, which they are allowed to do.

Also, the hotel may require ID for reasons unrelated to actual check-in or credit cards. If the room is stocked with a mini-bar, then the law would require them to verify the guest is over 21.