By Rupert Howell
Local hoteliers have become concerned over adult parents and guardians renting rooms in local lodging establishments and leaving their teenagers for the evening of proms or other partying events.

Not wanting to be named, the local hoteliers have expressed displeasure in having to deal with the chaos including loud music, noise, drinking and other forms of revelry experienced during the prom night stay.
According to Batesville Police Chief Tony Jones his department has not received any calls, but noted if the culprits are teenagers or juveniles, his department could only charge them with disturbing the peace and call their parents to come get them.

But the hoteliers say they would rather parents be more responsible and not put them in position to take civil action for damages to rooms and inconveniences to other guests using the hotels.

Local hotels do not rent rooms to underage persons according to one innkeeper who said it is hard to distinguish when adults are renting for themselves or for their kids.

Police Chief Jones also said that the hotel owners or management have a responsibility to put customers out of the hotel if they are breaking rules and behaving badly.

An out of area hotel manager with a degree in hotel management said this week that the problem is universal.

Having worked in as many as four states at six different motels, he noted it happens in all of them.
The hotel manager said his company has a form letter that room renters must sign, especially during prom season, that outlines the “cans and can’ts” and consequences of room rental. He also said there is a one warning rule that allows hotel staff to ask violators to leave after one warning.

Most local hotels do not have in-house security officers and depend on local law enforcement in cases of serious emergency.

Jones said it is also up to the hotel to bring civil action against persons responsible for physical damage to their facilities. That would require the lodging establishment to file suit against the adult whose name appears as the room’s renter.

The local hotel group has purchased a series of newspaper advertisements to be published during the prom and banquet season reminding parents to be responsible and to not rent rooms for un-chaperoned teens.