Photo Credit: Barry Sloan
Suffolk County is considering banning hourly rates at hotels and motels as part of a broader effort to curb sex trafficking. The region has one of the most severe human trafficking problems in the country, and victims there tend to be younger than in other counties. County leaders say the proposed measures, including outlawing hourly rates, strengthening documentation requirements and retention periods, and mandating the preservation of security footage, are intended to close loopholes that traffickers routinely exploit.
How the Policy is Designed to Disrupt Sex Trafficking Networks
Under the current county code, hotels and motels must collect basic registration information from guests, including names, residence, and arrival and departure dates. However, the existing framework does not fully account for how traffickers exploit temporary rentals and short stays to avoid detection.
The proposed legislation would make four major changes:
- Ban hourly hotel and motel rates
Lawmakers argue that hourly bookings create “attractive venues” for traffickers due to their low cost and fast turnover. Eliminating these rates would require a minimum overnight stay. - Extend guest record retention from three to five years
Hotels would need to maintain digital copies of guest photo IDs for five years, giving investigators a larger window to review records during long-term trafficking cases. - Require hotels to store security footage for at least 90 days
Longer retention ensures law enforcement can access crucial video evidence, even if victims come forward weeks or months later. - Increase penalties for noncompliance
Fines would rise to $250 for a first violation (up from $100) and $1,000 for subsequent offenses (up from $200), reinforcing the importance of compliance.
Together, these updates aim to deter traffickers and provide clearer, more consistent documentation to support investigations.
Human Trafficking Trends in Suffolk County
The legislation follows multiple briefings before the Public Safety Committee earlier this year, where detectives shared data showing how widespread trafficking is on Long Island.
At this briefing, Detective Sgt. James Johnson of the Suffolk Police Department’s Human Trafficking Investigations Unit reported that 529 human trafficking victims have been identified since 2017, and approximately 90% were local residents, rather than individuals brought from outside the country. Before the dedicated unit launched, Suffolk had just two human-trafficking-related convictions. As of this year, there have been 190 arrests resulting in nearly 1,000 charges.
In a 2024 investigation from Newsday, it was reported that Suffolk County is a hub for sex trafficking, where prostitution has been moved off the streets and into hotels.
Investigators also emphasized that trafficking is not confined to small roadside motels. Larger hotels, ranging from mid-tier to upscale, have also been used for trafficking operations. Sgt. Erin Meunkle of the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office described cases where traffickers rented multiple rooms for weeks at a time, using one for drug sales, one for trafficking victims, and another for collecting payments.
Maps presented during legislative briefings identified more than 30 hotels and motels with confirmed trafficking activity across Suffolk County, showing how widespread the problem has become.
Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. called trafficking “present in nearly every hotel and motel across Long Island,” and stated that the new bill would offer “stronger tools to investigate and put traffickers behind bars.”
Public Hearing and Legislative Timeline
The Public Safety Committee voted to advance the bill to a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday at the legislature’s general meeting in Hauppauge. After public input, the proposal will return to committee before a likely full legislature vote in December.
Legislator Lennon called the proposal “just a start,” noting that additional anti-trafficking initiatives may follow as officials continue to identify vulnerabilities within the hotel and lodging industry.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is Suffolk County proposing to ban hourly hotel rates?
Suffolk County lawmakers argue that hourly hotel and motel rates create opportunities for sex trafficking and other criminal activity due to their low cost and short duration. By requiring a minimum overnight stay, the county aims to reduce quick-turnover room rentals that traffickers often rely on.
How can the new legislation help prevent human trafficking?
The bill strengthens prevention efforts by combining multiple safeguards: eliminating hourly rates, expanding record-keeping requirements, increasing the length of time hotels must store photo IDs and security footage, and raising fines for noncompliance.
Are only small motels involved in trafficking cases?
No. According to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and Police Department, trafficking occurs in both small roadside motels and larger chain hotels. Investigators identified over 30 hotel and motel locations across the county with documented trafficking incidents, showing that the issue spans all types of lodging businesses.
What happens next with the proposed legislation?
The bill is currently headed to a public hearing at the Suffolk County Legislature’s general meeting in Hauppauge. After public feedback, the bill will return to committee for revisions before a potential full vote in December. Legislators expect additional anti-trafficking measures to follow.
How does improved recordkeeping help trafficking victims?
Extended ID retention and longer security footage storage give investigators more time to connect missing persons cases, track movement patterns, and identify traffickers. Even fraudulent IDs provide clues that can support investigations. These records are often critical in building cases and locating victims who may come forward weeks or months later.