Hotel-related crime inspires new license ordinance

A spike in crimes taking place at hotels in the city of Auburn Hills this summer inspired two new ordinances which will soon see more oversight for the businesses.

Auburn Hills City Council passed a comprehensive hotel ordinance on Sept. 28 which includes a host of standard operating regulations as well as requirements for surveillance cameras, staff training and accommodation time limits.

On Nov. 2 a second ordinance pertaining to forfeiture of property for ordinance violations is also expected to be adopted and approved, placing harsher penalties on crimes like drug sales and prostitution on the city level.

Since May, police have seen a 50 to 60% increase in all types of crime at the 19 hotels and motels in the city, according to Ryan Gagnon, deputy chief of police. The ordinances are the outcome of “Operation Stay Safe,” a city and police-led task force that formed in early August in response to the uptick. Primarily they aim to deter drug crimes, prostitution and larcenies by requiring certain training, regulations and equipment under a new renewable hotel license.

In late July, four fatal drug overdoses took place within 24 hours at the Baymont Inn and Suites in Auburn Hills. Two brothers, ages 18 and 20, and a 17-year- old girl, all from Rochester Hills, died after overdosing there on July 29. The following day, a 40- year- old Rochester Hills man also died from a drug overdose at the hotel.

“Overwhelmingly the majority of our hotels are operating very efficiently, and we have very few problems, but we have seen a significant increase (in crime),” Gagnon said. “So we met with the hotels individually, because we want them to work with us on this, we don’t want to make this overbearing for them.”

The training now required for hotel staff under the ordinance includes how to administer naloxone, known as Narcan, in the case of an overdose as well as Stop the Bleeding training in the event of an active shooter situation. Auburn Hills Police are offering the training to hotels free or charge, Gagnon said. Hotels will also no longer be allowed to rent rooms in hourly increments.

“The ordinance with the hotels aligns them all under a set of standards, like ensuring they have adequate surveillance cameras. It provides guidelines and regulations associated with reporting crimes to us, and ensures they’re properly trained in identifying intoxication and giving first aid,” Gagnon said.

The businesses will have until early January to install the new security cameras, 120 days after the ordinance was approved.