Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits certain video recordings in hotels and transient accommodations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act prohibiting certain video recordings in hotels and transient accommodations, and supplementing P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The owner of a hotel shall not use any video recording device in a unit of dwelling space or sleeping facility of the hotel.
b. The owner of a transient accommodation shall not use any video recording device in the interior of the transient accommodation while it is occupied by a guest.
c. An owner who violates the provisions of either subsection a. or subsection b. of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation in addition to any other penalties available by law. The commissioner, a municipality that elects to enforce P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.) pursuant to subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.1987, c.30 (C.55:13A:13a) or section 21 of P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-21), the Attorney General, or any other person may collect the penalty authorized by this subsection by a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The municipal court and the Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of proceedings for the enforcement of the penalty authorized by this subsection.
d. As used in this section:
"Hotel" means a building or portion of a building which is regularly used and kept open as such for the lodging of guests, including an apartment hotel, a motel, inn, and a rooming or boarding house or club, whether or not meals are served, but does not include a transient accommodation.
"Residence" means a house, condominium, or other residential dwelling unit in a building or structure or part of a building or structure that is designed, constructed, leased, rented, let or hired out, or otherwise made available for use as a residence.
"Transient accommodation" means a room, group of rooms, or other living or sleeping space for the lodging of occupants, including but not limited to residences or buildings used as residences, but does not include: a hotel or hotel room; a room, group of rooms, or other living or sleeping space used as a place of assembly; a dormitory or other similar residential facility of an elementary or secondary school or a college or university; a hospital, nursing home, or other similar residential facility of a provider of services for the care, support, and treatment of individuals that is licensed by the State; a campsite, cabin, lean-to, or other similar residential facility of a campground or an adult or youth camp; or leases of real property with a term of at least 90 consecutive days.
"Video recording device" means any image recording device that may be used to photograph, film, videotape, record, or otherwise reproduce in any manner, the image of another person.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would prohibit the use of video recording devices in the living and sleeping areas of all hotels and transient accommodations to protect the privacy of their guests. For hotels, these devices would be prohibited in any dwelling space or sleeping facility. For transient accommodations, these devices would be prohibited in the entire interior of a transient accommodation while it is occupied by a guest. A hotel or transient accommodation owner that violates the provisions of the bill would be liable for a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation.