Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 70. PROPERTY

CHAPTER 6. BAILMENT -- DEPOSIT

Part 5. Innkeepers

Eviction Of Guests

70-6-511. Eviction of guests. (1) An innkeeper may evict a guest of a hotel, as defined in 50-51-102, who refuses or has otherwise failed to pay the bill when due. Before evicting a guest, the innkeeper shall demand payment of the bill and shall ask the guest to vacate the premises. If the guest does not pay the bill or leave following these requests, the innkeeper may lock the door to the guest's room, remove the guest's baggage and other personal property, or evict the guest by any other peaceful means. The innkeeper may hold the guest's baggage and other personal property but is subject to liability as provided in 70-6-501.

(2) An innkeeper may also evict a person, whether or not the person is a guest of the hotel, who:

(a) is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other intoxicating substance and acts in a disorderly fashion so as to disturb the peace of other guests or is not in compliance with state liquor laws;

(b) acts in a disorderly fashion so as to disturb the peace of other guests;

(c) seeks to use the hotel for an unlawful purpose;

(d) seeks to bring into the hotel:

(i) an unlawfully possessed firearm; or

(ii) something, including an explosive or a hazardous or toxic substance, that it is unlawful to possess and that may be dangerous to other persons;

(e) destroys, damages, defaces, or threatens harm to hotel property or guests;

(f) causes or permits persons to exceed the maximum allowable occupancy of a hotel room as established by the innkeeper;

(g) refuses to abide by reasonable standards or policies established by the innkeeper for operation and management of the hotel.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 335, L. 1995.