MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B

By: Representative Holland

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 75-73-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE AMOUNT REGARDING DEFRAUDING AN INNKEEPER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 75-73-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

75-73-9. (1) Any person who shall, for himself or as the agent or representative of another or as an officer of a corporation, obtain food, lodging, money, property or other accommodations of a value less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) at any hotel, motel, motor hotel, motor lodge, inn, boarding or eating house with intent to defraud the owner or keeper thereof, shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) and not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned in the county jail for a term not exceeding one (1) year, or both; but any person who shall, for himself or as the agent or representative of another or as an officer of a corporation, obtain food, lodging, money, property or other accommodations of a value of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) or over at any hotel, motel, motor hotel, motor lodge, inn, boarding or eating house with intent to defraud the owner or keeper thereof shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned in the State Penitentiary for a term of one (1) year, or both. In case of a second and subsequent conviction of the offense described, regardless of the value of the food, lodging, money, property or other accommodations obtained, the punishment shall be by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term of not exceeding two (2) years.

(2) No person shall remain in a hotel or motel where his term or stay has expired if the person has been given a separate written notice of his agreed departure date and checkout time at the time he registered in the hotel or motel, the person has signed such notice acknowledging his departure time, and the person has been given written notice at least three (3) hours prior to the time required to leave the hotel or motel room. Willful violations of this subsection shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and each violation shall be a separate offense. This subsection shall not apply in case of serious medical emergency requiring the room's continued use.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.