Crime & Safety

La Quinta Hotel Ordered to Clean Up Activity There

A hotel in Rancho Penasquitos with a history of prostitution-related activity is under a court order to make changes in how it conducts business, authorities said.

A hotel in Rancho Penasquitos with a history of prostitution-related activity is under a court order to make changes in how it conducts business, the City Attorney's Office announced today.

The judgment calls for the operators of the La Quinta Hotel at 10185 Paseo Montril to increase security, install more security cameras and signs to deter criminal activity and change hotel registration policies, among other requirements.

The hotel owner, BRE/LQ Properties LLC, must pay $15,000 in investigative costs to the city of San Diego and $5,000 in civil penalties, according to the City Attorney's Office. An additional $20,000 in civil penalties was stayed by Judge Judith Hayes, pending successful compliance with the terms of the settlement.     "Hotel guests need to feel safe and secure," said City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. "Our office will continue to work diligently to hold business owners accountable and clean up neighborhoods impacted by illegal activity such as prostitution."

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San Diego police have made 16 prostitution arrests at the hotel since March 2012, and undercover officers determined that many females who frequented the property were offering sexual services through a website, according to the City Attorney's Office.

Police said they also discovered the 6-year-old son of a pimp and prostitute on the premises.

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The judgment requires the hotel to photocopy all guest and visitor identification cards for a period of time; require a deposit for all rooms rented with cash; register all guest and visitor vehicles; install additional lighting around the hotel; and continue to maintain a "Do not Rent" list of known individuals arrested for prostitution related-activity on or off the property.

Also, visitors to the hotel between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. must register at the desk and present valid government-issued picture identification.

The City Attorney's Office said the hotel has a history of illegal activity, and previous owners failed to cooperate with law enforcement.

-- City News Service


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