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Saturday, July 26, 2014

Does Your Fourth Amendment Right End When You Get a Hotel Room?

Rebecca Pleins and her husband were on a water taxi in Baltimore when they got the first call at 8:30 p.m. — they missed it.

Fifteen minutes later, they got a call again.

The staff at Motel 6, where the North Carolina couple was staying with their six dogs, had gotten complaints about noise, entered their room while they were out, found the dogs without food or water, considered them thin and thus concluded they were neglected.

“I said we would come and get our dogs and leave,” Pleins said. “As soon as I said that, they transferred me to a police officer who had already been in my room.”

The Pleins rushed to the motel, fearing their dogs would get taken away, but at one point, once they had time to think, Pleins said they wondered if the police even had the right to enter their room without a warrant. The situation also led to the authorities finding and confiscating their firearm.

This whole issue raises the question: Are hotel and motel rooms protected under the Fourth Amendment and if so, how much?

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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

While the motel's representatives have a right to enter the room (included in the fine print on your receipt) esp since the couple broke the unattended pet rule, they don't have the right to tamper with personal property and dogs are considered personal property. This right to enter is not extended to agents of the government though.
The woman did tell LE about the gun the couple had in the room, so she is at fault for it's confiscation because she didn't have to disclose it.
It was kind of funny. Article states that after she disclosed there was a gun in the room, LE stormed the room as if the gun were going to start shooting itself off.

Anonymous said...

None of our rights are recognized by this administration.

Anonymous said...

The 4th amendment does not cover stupid.There are no absolute laws governing anything nor have there ever been.Every situation is and has always been arguable in court.This couple seriously pushed the envelope.Game over if the vet (given orders by the court to be completely objective)presents a bleak picture of the dogs health.This case must be judged completely on it's own merit.The gun issue could go either way.

Anonymous said...

I'm with 5:49. The room is owned by the hotel owner, and he makes the calls here. If you are misbehaving, well....

Anonymous said...

When you are in my house , you will abide by my rules .
When you are in my store you will abide by my rules . Democracy stops in my house.

Anonymous said...

And THIS is why I own a camper.

Anonymous said...

Bunch of hillbillies from NC with 6 dogs that they need to take on vacation with them….

Anonymous said...

lmao, amazing about this story is all the fuss over 6 dogs. how many kids from homes in that area left unattended all day long? Where's all the concern for them?
FOOLS all around! including LE.

Anonymous said...

The seventh dog wouldn't come out from under their single wide.

Anonymous said...

I aint staying in any hotel that has animals.