city los angeles california patel et argued decided june city los angeles california patel et al certiorari appeals ninth circuit argued march decided june petitioner city los angeles city requires hotel operators record keep specific information guests premises period los angeles municipal code records shall made available officer los angeles police department inspection time manner minimizes interference operation business hotel operator failure make records available criminal misdemeanor respondents group motel operators lodging association brought facial challenge fourth amendment grounds district entered judgment city finding respondents lacked reasonable expectation privacy records ninth circuit subsequently reversed determining inspections fourth amendment searches searches unreasonable fourth amendment hotel owners subjected punishment failure turn records without first afforded opportunity precompliance review held facial challenges fourth amendment categorically barred especially disfavored pp facial challenges statutes opposed challenges particular applications statutes permitted proceed diverse array constitutional provisions see sorrell ims health first amendment district columbia heller second amendment fourth amendment exception sibron new york distinguished entertained facial challenges statutes authorizing warrantless searches declaring several occasions facially invalid see chandler miller pp petitioner contends facial challenges statutes authorizing warrantless searches must fail never unconstitutional applications precedents demonstrate challenges brought succeed proper analysis applications statute statute actually authorizes prohibits conduct considered see planned parenthood southeastern casey addressing facial challenge statute authorizing warrantless searches proper focus searches law actually authorizes proceed irrespective whether authorized statute exigent circumstances warrant consent search exists pp section facially unconstitutional fails provide hotel operators opportunity precompliance review pp earches conducted outside judicial process per se unreasonable fourth amendment subject exceptions arizona gant one exception administrative searches see camara municipal city county san francisco constitutional subject administrative search must among things afforded opportunity obtain precompliance review neutral decisionmaker see see seattle assuming administrative search exception otherwise applies facially invalid fails afford hotel operators opportunity precompliance review clear hotel owner must afforded opportunity precompliance review actual review need occur hotel operator objects turning records opportunity provided without imposing onerous burdens law enforcement instance officers field issue administrative subpoenas without probable cause regulation infringed narrow holding call question parts requiring hotel operators keep records prevent police obtaining access records hotel operator consents search officer proper administrative warrant exception warrant requirement applies pp petitioner argument ordinance facially valid relaxed standard closely regulated industries rejected see marshall barlow recognized four industries nothing inherent operation hotels poses comparable clear significant risk public welfare additionally majority regulations applicable hotels apply many businesses classify hotels closely regulated permit always narrow exception swallow rule even hotels closely regulated still contravene fourth amendment fails satisfy additional criteria must met searches closely regulated industries reasonable see new york burger pp affirmed sotomayor delivered opinion kennedy ginsburg breyer kagan joined scalia filed dissenting opinion roberts thomas joined alito filed dissenting opinion thomas joined opinion notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press city los angeles california petitioner naranjibhai patel et al writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit june justice sotomayor delivered opinion respondents brought fourth amendment challenge provision los angeles municipal code compels operator hotel keep record containing specified information concerning guests make record available officer los angeles police department inspection demand los angeles municipal code questions presented whether facial challenges statutes brought fourth amendment whether provision los angeles municipal code facially invalid hold facial challenges brought fourth amendment hold provision los angeles municipal code requires hotel operators make registries available police demand facially unconstitutional penalizes declining turn records without affording opportunity precompliance review los angeles municipal code lamc requires hotel operators record information guests including guest name address number people guest party make model license plate number guest vehicle parked hotel property guest date time arrival scheduled departure date room number assigned guest rate charged amount collected room method payment guests without reservations pay rooms cash guests rent room less hours must present photographic identification time hotel operators required record number expiration date document guests check using electronic kiosk hotel records must also contain guest credit card information information maintained either electronic paper form must kept hotel premises guest reception guest area office adjacent thereto period days section provision issue pertinent part hotel guest records shall made available officer los angeles police department inspection provided henever possible inspection shall conducted time manner minimizes interference operation business hotel operator failure make guest records available police inspection misdemeanor punishable six months jail fine general provision applicable entire lamc respondents group motel operators along lodging association sued city los angeles city petitioner three consolidated cases challenging constitutionality sought declaratory injunctive relief parties agree sole issue action facial constitutional challenge fourth amendment app stipulated respondents subjected mandatory record inspections ordinance without consent warrant following bench trial district entered judgment favor city holding respondents facial challenge failed lacked reasonable expectation privacy records subject inspection divided panel ninth circuit affirmed grounds rehearing en banc however appeals reversed en banc first determined police officer nonconsensual inspection hotel records fourth amendment search business records covered hotel private property hotel therefore right exclude others prying ir contents next assessed whether searches authorized reasonable relying donovan lone steer see seattle held facially unconstitutional authorizes inspections hotel records without affording opportunity judicial review reasonableness demand prior suffering penalties refusing comply quoting see two dissenting opinions filed first dissent argued facial relief rarely available fourth amendment challenges inappropriate ordinance constitutional circumstances police officers demand access hotel records warrant hand exigent circumstances justify search opinion tallman second dissent conceded inspections constitute fourth amendment searches faulted majority assessing reasonableness searches without accounting weakness hotel operators privacy interest content guest registries opinion clifton granted certiorari affirm ii first clarify facial challenges fourth amendment categorically barred especially disfavored facial challenge attack statute opposed particular application challenges difficult mount successfully salerno never held claims brought otherwise enforceable provision constitution cf fallon fact fiction facial challenges cal rev pointing several terms adjudicated facial challenges merits challenges instead allowed challenges proceed diverse array constitutional provisions see sorrell ims health first amendment district columbia heller second amendment chicago morales due process clause fourteenth amendment kraft foods iowa dept revenue finance foreign commerce clause fourth amendment challenges statutes authorizing warrantless searches exception claim contrary reflects misunderstanding decision sibron new york sibron two criminal defendants challenged constitutionality statute authorizing police among things person abroad public place reasonably suspec committing committed commit felony quoting code crim proc held search one defendants statute violated fourth amendment refused opine broadly statute validity stating constitutional validity warrantless search sort question decided concrete factual context individual case statement sibron face might suggest intent foreclose facial challenges statutes authorizing warrantless searches must understood broader context case section opinion emphasized operative categories new york law issue susceptible wide variety interpretations law passed recently state highest ruled upon many questions involving potential intersections federal constitutional guarantees sibron thus stands simple proposition claims facial relief fourth amendment unlikely succeed substantial ambiguity conduct statute authorizes statute consists extraordinarily elastic categories may impossible tell whether extent deviates requirements fourth amendment reading sibron confirmed subsequent precedents since sibron entertained facial challenges fourth amendment statutes authorizing warrantless searches see vernonia school district acton granted certiorari decide whether petitioner student athlete drug testing policy violates fourth fourteenth amendments constitution skinner railway labor executives espondents challenged administrative scheme face deal therefore whether drug tests contemplated regulation ever conducted cf illinois krull person subject statute authorizing searches without warrant probable cause may bring action seeking declaration statute unconstitutional injunction barring implementation perhaps importantly numerous occasions declared statutes facially invalid fourth amendment instance chandler miller struck georgia statute requiring candidates certain state offices take pass drug test concluding requirement fit within closely guarded category constitutionally permissible suspicionless searches similar examples abound see ferguson charleston holding hospital policy authorizing nonconsensual warrantless suspicionless searches contravened fourth amendment payton new york holding new york statute authoriz ing police officers enter private residence without warrant force necessary make routine felony arrest consistent fourth amendment torres puerto rico holding puerto rico statute authorizing police search luggage person arriving puerto rico unconstitutional failed require either probable cause warrant petitioner principally contends facial challenges statutes authorizing warrantless searches must fail searches never unconstitutional applications cf salerno obtain facial relief party seeking must establish set circumstances exists statute valid particular city points situations police responding emergency subject search consents intrusion police acting warrant see brief petitioner petitioner frames argument objection respondents challenge case logic preclude facial relief every fourth amendment challenge statute authorizing warrantless searches reason alone city argument must fail precedents demonstrate facial challenges statutes authorizing warrantless searches brought also succeed see part supra moreover city argument misunderstands courts analyze facial challenges exacting standard prescribed facial challenges plaintiff must establish law unconstitutional applications washington state grange washington state republican party assessing whether statute meets standard considered applications statute actually authorizes prohibits conduct instance planned parenthood southeastern casey struck provision pennsylvania abortion law required woman notify husband obtaining abortion defending statute argued facial relief inappropriate women voluntarily notify husbands planned abortion law impose undue burden rejected argument explaining egislation measured consistency constitution impact whose conduct affects proper focus constitutional inquiry group law restriction group law irrelevant similarly addressing facial challenge statute authorizing warrantless searches proper focus constitutional inquiry searches law actually authorizes irrelevant exigency warrant justifies officer search subject search must permit proceed irrespective whether authorized statute statutes authorizing warrantless searches also work subject search consented accordingly constitutional applications petitioner claims prevent facial relief irrelevant analysis involve actual applications iii turning merits particular claim us hold facially unconstitutional fails provide hotel operators opportunity precompliance review fourth amendment protects right people secure persons houses papers effects unreasonable searches seizures provides warrants shall issue upon probable cause based constitutional text repeatedly held conducted outside judicial process without prior approval judge magistrate judge per se unreasonable subject specifically established exceptions arizona gant quoting katz rule applies commercial premises well homes marshall barlow search regimes warrant ever required may reasonable needs make warrant requirement impracticable skinner quoting griffin wisconsin internal quotation marks omitted primary purpose searches istinguishable general interest crime control indianapolis edmond assume searches authorized serve special need conducting criminal investigations ensure compliance recordkeeping requirement turn deters criminals operating hotels referred kind search administrative searc camara municipal city county san francisco thus consider whether falls within administrative search exception warrant requirement held absent consent exigent circumstances like order administrative search constitutional subject search must afforded opportunity obtain precompliance review neutral decisionmaker see see lone steer noting administrative search may proceed subpoena subpoenaed party sufficiently protected opportunity question reasonableness subpoena suffering penalties refusing comply raising objections action district see reason minimal requirement inapplicable never attempted prescribe exact form opportunity precompliance review must take city even attempt argue affords hotel operators opportunity whatsoever section therefore facially invalid hotel owner refuses give officer access registry arrested spot held business owners reasonably put kind choice camara holding broad statutory safeguards substitute individualized review particularly safeguards may invoked risk criminal penalty absent opportunity precompliance review ordinance creates intolerable risk searches authorized exceed statutory limits used pretext harass hotel operators guests even hotel searched times day every day three months without violation found operator refuse comply officer demand turn registry peril clear hold hotel owner must afforded opportunity neutral decisionmaker review officer demand search registry faces penalties failing comply actual review need occur rare instances hotel operator objects turning registry moreover opportunity provided without imposing onerous burdens charged administrative scheme enforcement instance respondents accept searches authorized constitutional performed pursuant administrative subpoena tr oral arg subpoenas typically simple form issued individual seeking record officers field without probable cause regulation infringed see see demand inspect may issued agency issuing subpoena usually full extent officer burden great majority businessmen expected normal course consent inspection without warrant barlow indeed city cited evidence suggesting without ordinance authorizing searches hotel operators regularly refuse cooperate police instances however subpoenaed hotel operator believes attempted search motivated illicit purposes respondents suggest sufficient move quash subpoena search takes place tr oral arg neutral decisionmaker including administrative law judge review subpoenaed party objections deciding whether subpoena enforceable given limited grounds motion quash granted challenges likely rare even rarer event officer reasonably suspects hotel operator may tamper registry motion quash pending guard registry required hearing occur take long riley california slip police may seize hold cell phone prevent destruction evidence seeking warrant illinois mcarthur citing cases upholding constitutionality temporary restraints needed preserve evidence police obtain warrant cf missouri mcneely slip noting many procedures place considering warrant applications telephonically procedures along lines ubiquitous report department justice identified approximately existing administrative subpoena authorities held various federal executive branch entities office legal policy report congress use administrative subpoena authorities executive branch agencies entities online http internet materials visited june available clerk case file prevalence confirms common sense alone otherwise lead us conclude contexts business owners afforded least opportunity contest administrative search propriety without unduly compromising government ability achieve regulatory aims course administrative subpoenas one way opportunity precompliance review made available whatever precise form availability precompliance review alters dynamic officer hotel searched reduces risk officers use administrative searches pretext harass business owners finally underscore narrow nature holding respondents challenged nothing opinion calls question parts require hotel operators maintain guest registries containing certain information even absent legislative action create procedure along lines discussed see supra police prevented obtaining access documents often hotel operators remain free consent searches registries police compel turn proper administrative warrant including one issued ex parte exception warrant requirement applies including exigent rather arguing constitutional general administrative search doctrine city justice scalia contend hotels closely regulated ordinance facially valid relaxed standard applies searches category businesses brief petitioner post wrong counts past years identified four industries history government oversight reasonable expectation privacy exist proprietor stock enterprise barlow simply listing industries refutes petitioner argument hotels counted among unlike liquor sales colonnade catering firearms dealing biswell mining donovan dewey running automobile junkyard new york burger nothing inherent operation hotels poses clear significant risk public welfare see automobile junkyards vehicle dismantlers provide major market stolen vehicles vehicle parts dewey describing mining industry among hazardous country moreover clear import cases closely regulated industry exception barlow classify hotels pervasively regulated permit always narrow exception swallow rule city wisely refrains arguing renders hotels closely regulated regulations petitioner justice scalia rely regulations requiring hotels inter alia maintain license collect taxes conspicuously post rates meet certain sanitary standards establish comprehensive scheme regulation distinguishes hotels numerous businesses see brief petitioner citing regulations post businesses los angeles need license operate lamc regulations apply smaller set businesses see cal code tit requiring linens changed rental guests online http hardly said created scheme puts hotel owners notice subject periodic inspections undertaken specific purposes burger quoting dewey instead akin widely applicable minimum wage maximum hour rules rejected basis deeming entirety american interstate commerce closely regulated barlow general regulations sufficient invoke closely regulated industry exception hard imagine type business qualify see brief google amicus curiae brief chamber commerce america amicus curiae petitioner attempts recast hodgepodge regulations comprehensive scheme referring tradition warrantless searches hotels brief petitioner history relevant determining whether industry closely regulated see burger historical record however clear petitioner suggests city justice scalia principally point evidence hotels treated public accommodations brief petitioner post instance commonwealth massachusetts required innkeepers suitable provisions lodging refreshment entertainment strangers travellers pasturing stable room hay provender horses cattle brief petitioner quoting act due regulation licensed houses reprinted acts laws commonwealth massachusetts laws obligating inns provide suitable lodging paying guests laws subjecting inns warrantless searches petitioner also asserts long time hotel owners left registers open widespread inspection brief petitioner setting aside modern hotel registries contain sensitive information driver licenses credit card numbers historic analog fact hotels chose make registries accessible public little bearing whether government authorities viewed documents demand without hotel consent even find hotels pervasively regulated need satisfy three additional criteria reasonable fourth amendment must government interest informs regulatory scheme pursuant inspection made warrantless inspections must regulatory scheme statute inspection program terms certainty regularity application must provid constitutionally adequate substitute warrant burger internal quotation marks omitted assume petitioner interest ensuring hotels maintain accurate complete registries might fulfill first requirements conclude fails second third prongs test city claims affording hotel operators opportunity precompliance review fatally undermine scheme efficacy giving operators chance falsify records brief petitioner previously rejected exact argument made regarding recordkeeping requirement see barlow apparent advantages surprise lost refused entry procedures available labor secretary seek ex parte warrant reappear premises without notice establishment inspected cf lone steer affirming use administrative subpoena provided opportunity precompliance review means obtaining payroll sales records see reason accept explained nothing decision today precludes officer conducting surprise inspection obtaining ex parte warrant officer reasonably suspects registry altered guarding registry pending hearing motion quash see barlow riley slip justice scalia claim procedures prove unworkable given large number hotels los angeles red herring see post approximately hotels los angeles basis believe resort measures needed conduct spot checks vast majority see supra section also constitutionally deficient certainty regularity prong closely regulated industries test fails sufficiently constrain police officers discretion hotels search circumstances upheld inspection schemes closely regulated industries called searches least four times year dewey regular basis burger imposes comparable standard foregoing reasons agree ninth circuit facially invalid insofar fails provide opportunity precompliance review hotel must give guest registry police inspection accordingly judgment ninth circuit affirmed ordered scalia dissenting city los angeles california petitioner naranjibhai patel et al writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit june justice scalia chief justice justice thomas join dissenting city los angeles like many jurisdictions across country law requires motels hotels places overnight accommodation hereinafter motels keep register containing specified information guests los angeles municipal code lamc purpose recordkeeping requirement deter criminal conduct theory criminals unwilling carry illicit activities motel rooms must provide identifying information deterrent effect accomplished motels actually require guests provide required information ordinance also authorizes police conduct random spot checks motels guest registers ensure properly maintained ordinance limits spot checks four corners register authorize police enter nonpublic area motel extent possible police must conduct spot checks times minimize disruption motel business parties dispute governmental interests stake motels provide housing vulnerable transient populations also particularly attractive site criminal activity ranging drug dealing prostitution human trafficking offering privacy anonymity cheap employed prisons migrants smuggled across border held ransom see sanchez immigrant smugglers become ruthless washington post june wagner human smuggling arizona republic july rendezvous sites child sex workers meet clients threat violence procurers nevertheless today concludes los angeles ordinance unreasonable inasmuch permits police flip guest register ensure filled without first providing opportunity motel operator seek judicial review believe limited inspection guest register eminently reasonable circumstances presented dissent assume respondents may bring facial challenge city ordinance fourth amendment even claim must fail discussed infra law constitutional applications see salerno discusses propriety facial challenge length offer thoughts article iii limits jurisdiction cases controversies accordingly ederal courts may questions affect rights litigants case give advising law upon hypothetical state facts chafin chafin slip sure reasoning decision may suggest permissible application particular statute chicago morales scalia dissenting doctrine stare decisis reasoning extent necessary holding binding future cases sense facial invalidation statute logical consequence opinion immediate effect judgment although times described holdings invalidating law always application law rather law us upshot effect given case function plaintiff characterization challenge narrowness breadth ground relies upon disposing plaintiff elects present facts support claim law unconstitutional case limit grounds may find highly abstract rules broad application future cases decision might poor strategic move especially fourth amendment case reasonableness search highly factbound question general abstract rules hard come cf sibron new york even plaintiffs case presented voluminous facts challenge nothing force rely upon facts rather broader principle chosen rely upon see reason plaintiff challenge facial provide independent reason reject unless delegate litigants duty say law ii fourth amendment provides relevant part right people secure persons houses papers effects unreasonable searches seizures shall violated warrants shall issue upon probable cause grammatically two clauses amendment seem independent directed entirely different actors former tells executive must conducts search latter tells judiciary must issues search warrant effort guide courts applying clause indeterminate reasonableness standard maintain coherence case law used warrant clause guidepost assessing reasonableness search erected framework presumptions applicable broad categories searches conducted executive officials case law repeatedly recognized mere presumptions requirement search reasonable example search conducted enforce administrative regime rather investigate criminal wrongdoing willing modify standard warrant may issue absent individualized suspicion wrongdoing thus cases say warrant may issue inspect structure violations basis factors passage time nature building condition neighborhood camara municipal city county san francisco recognized case reasonableness still ultimate standard valid public interest justifies intrusion contemplated probable cause issue suitably restricted search warrant precisely ultimate touchstone fourth amendment even presumption search home without warrant unreasonable subject certain exceptions brigham city stuart one exception normal warrant requirements applies searches closely regulated businesses hen entrepreneur embarks upon business voluntarily chosen subject full arsenal governmental regulation warrantless search enforce regulations unreasonable marshall barlow recognizing warrantless searches closely regulated businesses may nevertheless become unreasonable arbitrarily conducted required laws authorizing searches satisfy three criteria must government interest informs regulatory scheme pursuant inspection made warrantless inspections must regulatory statute inspection program terms certainty regularity application must provid constitutionally adequate substitute warrant new york burger los angeles ordinance easily meets standards determining whether business closely regulated looked factors including duration regulatory tradition colonnade catering donovan dewey comprehensiveness regulatory regime burger supra dewey supra imposition similar regulations jurisdictions burger supra factors talismans shed light expectation privacy owner business may reasonably turn affects reasonableness warrantless search see barlow supra reflecting unique public role motels commercial forebears governments long subjected businesses unique public duties established inspection regimes ensure compliance blackstone observed inns particular intended lodging receipt travellers may indicted suppressed fined refuse entertain traveller without sufficient cause thus frustrate end institution held disorderly behavior blackstone commentaries laws england justice story similarly recognized soundness public policy subjecting particular classes persons extraordinary responsibility cases extraordinary confidence necessarily reposed extraordinary temptation fraud danger plunder story commentaries law bailments pp ed accordingly addition obligation receive paying guest innkeepers bound take merely ordinary care uncommon care goods money baggage guests travellers obliged rely almost implicitly good faith innholders whose education morals none best might frequent opportunities associating ruffians pilferers obligations merely aspirational time founding searches indeed warrantless searches inns similar places public accommodation commonplace example although massachusetts perhaps state protective government searches state code still allowed tithingmen search public houses entertainment every sabbath without sort warrant cuddihy fourth amendment origins original meaning evidence demonstrates regulatory tradition governing motels longstanding comprehensive tradition continues los angeles city imposes occupancy tax upon transients stay motels lamc makes motel owner responsible collecting authorizes city officials enter motel free charge business hours order inspect examine determine whether tax provisions complied requires motels obtain transient occupancy registration certificate must displayed premises state law requires motels post conspicuous place statement rate range rates day lodging forbids charges excess posted rates cal civ code ann west hotels must change bed linens guests cal code tit must offer guests option towels linens laundered daily lamc multiuse drinking utensils may placed guest rooms thoroughly washed sanitized use placed protective bags cal code tit state authorities like municipal counterparts may reasonable times enter inspect hotels motels public places ensure compliance regulatory regime issue thus comprehensive regulations governing junkyards burger licensing requirements found sufficient qualify industry closely regulated suggestion regulations sufficiently targeted motels akin minimum wage maximum hour rules ante simply false regulations described reach minutest detail motel operations barlow supra enter business today like entered centuries expectation subjected especially vigilant governmental oversight finally ordinance outlier city pointed us similar laws cities counties across country brief petitioner far exhaustive municipalities least laws similar los angeles brief national league cities et al amici curiae least laws authorizing register inspections brief california et al amici curiae copious evidence surely enough establish hen motel operator chooses engage pervasively regulated business knowledge business records subject effective inspection biswell relevant constitutional test whether regulatory superstructure laws subjecting inns warrantless searches whether historical matter government authorities required documents kept permitted viewed demand without motel consent ante observation ver past years identified four industries closely regulated ante neither since first concluded colonnade catering warrantless searches closely regulated businesses reasonable identified one industry closely regulated see barlow statistic thus tells us exercises discretionary review number industries qualify closely regulated time lower courts luxury picking cases hear identified many businesses closely regulated test announced pharmacies gonsalves massage parlors pollard cockrell operations raub facilities rush obledo nursing homes people firstenberg cal app cal rptr jewelers people pashigian app per curiam barbershops stogner kentucky supp wd yes even rabbit dealers lesser espy like automobile junkyards catering companies serve alcohol many businesses far intrinsically dangerous cf ante come surprise reason closely regulated industries may searched without warrant nothing risk harm pose rather expectations enter line work see barlow supra city ordinance easily satisfies remaining burger requirements furthers substantial governmental interest necessary achieving interest provides adequate substitute search warrant neither respondents question substantial interest city deterring criminal activity see brief respondents ante private pain public costs imposed drug dealing prostitution human trafficking beyond contention motels provide obvious trade human misery warrantless inspections also necessary advance interest although acknowledges law enforcement enter motel room without warrant exigent circumstances exist see ante whole reason criminals use motel rooms first place offer privacy secrecy police never come discover exigencies recordkeeping requirement parties admit permissible therefore operates deterring crime criminals depend anonymity motels offer balk confronted motel demand produce identification motel evasion recordkeeping requirement fosters crime san diego example motel owners indicted collaborating members crips street gang prostitution underage girls motel owners set aside rooms apart rest legitimate customers girls women housed charged gang higher rate rooms took place warned gang members inquiries law enforcement office attorney general cal dept justice state human trafficking california warrantless inspection requirement provides necessary incentive motels maintain registers thoroughly accurately never know law enforcement might drop inspect respondents acknowledge inspections necessary achieve purposes recordkeeping regime insist warrantless inspections acknowledge however motel operators conspire drug dealers procurers may demand precompliance judicial review simply pretext buy time making fraudulent entries guest registers therefore must resort arguing warrantless inspections necessary alternatives exist suggests police obtain administrative subpoena search guest register motel moves quash police guar registry pending hearing motion ante proposal equal parts alice wonderland protects motels government inspection registers authorizing government agents seize guarding entails forbidding register moved upset guests prolonged police presence motel also notes police obtain ex parte warrant conducting register inspection ante presumably warrants issue without probable cause wrongdoing particular motel see camara otherwise alternative even regime police obtain ex parte warrant every inspection law enforcement way knowing ahead time motels refuse consent search upon request wait obtain warrant consent refused motels opportunity falsify guest registers police jump procedural hoops required obtain warrant quite plausible costs alternative prohibitive police force one america largest cities juggling numerous priorities confronting motels within jurisdiction wallace pollock horth carty elyas los angeles tourism domestic international analysis may online http visited june available clerk case file sure fact obtaining warrant might costly render warrantless search reasonable fourth amendment render warrantless search necessary context regime governing closely regulated businesses discussion case irrelevant administrative search need reasonable burden los angeles show less restrictive means achieving city purposes sequestration ex parte warrants possible alternatives warrantless search regimes approved colonnade catering biswell dewey burger importing test burger fourth amendment framework today opinion implicitly overrules entire line cases finally city ordinance provides adequate substitute warrant warrants advise owner scope objects search beyond limits inspector expected proceed barlow ultimately aim protect devolv ing almost unbridled discretion upon executive administrative officers particularly field search search ibid los angeles ordinance provides guest register must kept guest reception guest area adjacent office made available officer los angeles police department inspection whenever possible inspection shall conducted time manner minimizes interference operation business lamc nothing ordinance authorizes law enforcement enter nonpublic part motel compare statute upheld colonnade catering provided secretary delegate may enter daytime building place articles objects subject tax made produced kept far may necessary purpose examining said articles objects quoting ed one biswell stated secretary may enter business hours premises including places storage firearms ammunition importer purpose inspecting examining records documents required kept firearms ammunition kept stored quoting ed one dewey granted federal mine inspectors right entry upon coal mine quoting supp iii one burger compelled junkyard operators records permit said agent police officer examine vehicles parts vehicles subject record keeping requirements section premises quoting veh traf law mckinney los angeles ordinance limits warrantless police searches pages guest register public part motel circumscribes police discretion much exacting terms laws approved earlier cases claims los angeles ordinance confers much discretion adequately limit frequency searches without trace irony tries distinguish los angeles law laws upheld dewey burger pointing latter regimes required inspections least four times year basis respectively ante warrantless police searches business times day every day three months envisions los angeles regime ante entirely consistent regimes dewey burger times day every day least four times year much basis ante say hypothetical searches necessarily constitutional say los angeles ordinance presents greater risk hypothetical materialize laws already upheld earlier cases leave lower courts consider basis whether warrantless searches conducted unreasonably intrusive harassing manner iii reaches wrongheaded conclusion simply misapplying precedent mistaking precedent fourth amendment rather bother text amendment relies exclusively cases camara see seattle barlow constitution predates remains law land today although categorical framework jurisprudence erected area may provide us guidance guidance answer constitutional question issue whether challenged search reasonable administrative ordinance narrowly limits scope searches single business record authorize entry upon premises open public supported need prevent fabrication guest registers say least far afield laws issue cases relies upon concludes minor intrusions permissible police trying tamp market stolen auto parts unreasonable police instead attempting stamp market child sex slaves believe limited warrantless searches authorized los angeles ordinance reasonable circumstances respectfully dissent alito dissenting city los angeles california petitioner naranjibhai patel et al writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit june justice alito justice thomas joins dissenting today city los angeles never circumstances enforce requirement hotels make registers available police officers holds los angeles municipal code facially unconstitutional entering judgment serious safety federalism implications must conclude every application law set circumstances exists law valid ante quoting salerno doubts approach administrative searches closely regulated industries ante even correct still uphold many applications law constitutional five examples example one police probable cause believe register contains evidence crime go judge get search warrant hotel operator however refuses surrender register instead stashes away officers tear hotel apart looking simply order operator produce fourth amendment create right defy warrant hence constitutionally applied scenario indeed concedes proper apply california obstruction justice law case see ante brief respondents applying city law similar effect different one thinks overlapping laws unconstitutional see yates kagan dissenting slip overlap even significant overlap abounds criminal law collecting citations specific law gives notice general law event los angeles ordinance arguably broader least one important respect california obstruction justice statute relies ante state law applies person willfully resists delays obstructs public officer discharge attempt discharge duty office cal penal code ann west example set suppose hotel operator instead hiding register simply refused tell police located cites california case holding refusal unlawful city los angeles submits california law bstruction statutes prohibit hotel owner obstructing search require affirmative assistance reply brief los angeles ordinance contrast unequivocally requires hotel operator make register available request example two murderer kidnapped woman intent rape kill reason believe holed certain motel fourth amendment reasonableness standard accounts exigent circumstances see brigham city stuart police arrive motel operator folds arms says register locked safe invoking police order operator turn register refuses fourth amendment protect arrest example three neighborhood pay hour motels notorious gathering spot traffickers police officers drive neighborhood late one night see unusual amounts activity particular motel officers stop ask motel operator names paid cash rent rooms less three hours operator refuses provide information requesting see register arresting operator failing provide reasonable totality circumstances ohio robinette fact upheld similar reporting duty fourth amendment challenge scope information required also targeted public interest crime prevention less serious see california bankers assn shultz difficulty upholding requirement banks must provide reports transactions involving including name address occupation social security number customer involved along summary transaction amount money issue type identification presented example four motel operated dishonest employee charging rooms records pocketing difference owner finds eagerly consents police inspection register officers arrive ask see register operator hides fourth amendment allow operator refusal defeat owner consent see mancusi deforte accordingly violate fourth amendment arrest operator failing make register available officer los angeles police department inspection example five mom pop motel always keeps guest register open front desk anyone wants walk leaf motels common used los angeles big place motel reasonable expectation privacy register one doubts police officers like anyone else enter lobby see florida jardines slip donovan lone steer officer starts looking register others motel operator desk snatches away give back arresting person violate fourth amendment five examples many rushes past examples like suggesting work scenarios ante true threat legal sanction law orders hotel operators things want sure may circumstances command conflicts fourth amendment circumstances fourth amendment see art vi cl different local law remedy circumstances injunction limited conflict fourth amendment injunction protect hotel searched times day every day three months without violation found ante unlike facial invalidation injunction produce collateral damage section enforceable many cases fourth amendment violated serious arguments fourth amendment application warrantless searches seizures inherently inconsistent facial challenges see sibron new york explaining fourth amendment reasonableness requirement constitutional validity warrantless search sort question decided concrete factual context individual case brief manhattan institute policy research amicus curiae constitutional claim first clause fourth amendment never challenge always inherently challenge executive action assuming facial challenges ever make sense conceptually particular one fails basic principles facial invalidation contrary holding befuddling respectfully dissent footnotes relatedly claims statute authorizing warrantless searches may still independent force imposes penalty failing cooperate search conducted warrant exigency see brief amicus curiae argument gets things backwards otherwise facially unconstitutional statute saved invalidation based solely existence penalty provision applies searches actually authorized statute argument especially unconvincing independent obstruction justice statute imposes penalty willfully resist ing delay ing obstruct ing public officer discharge attempt discharge duty office employment cal penal code ann west respondents contend principal purpose instead facilitate criminal investigation brief respondents find searches authorized unconstitutional even serve city asserted purpose decline address argument justice scalia professes baffled idea suggest certain circumstances police officers may seize something immediately search post dissenting opinion cases explicitly endorsed including riley last term suggesting holding today somehow impede law enforcement achieving important aims justice scalia relies instances hotels used prisons migrants smuggled across border held ransom rendezvous sites child sex workers meet clients threat violence procurers see post hard imagine circumstances exigent justice scalia effort depict hotels raising comparable degree risk rings hollow see post hotels like practically commercial premises services put use nefarious ends unlike industries found closely regulated hotels intrinsically dangerous footnotes beale helpfully confirms rom earliest times fundamental characteristic inn public nature public house house public entertainment legally phrased common inn beale law innkeepers hotels baffled idea police officers may seize something immediately search ante baffled idea anyone think seizure required records less intrusive visual inspection