Originally Posted by
SPN Lifer
That's why one should bring several copies of the confirmation e-mail, as evidence of the binding contact. Explain this to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) officer politely and calmly, giving him or her a copy.
Law enforcement officials seldom get involved in such civil disputes where there is no additional violation such as disturbing the peace.
Speaking as an inactive attorney admitted to practice in California (see my profile), this could lead to a large payout from the hotel or SFPD or both, in the highly unlikely event you end up spending a free night in jail.
(The foregoing does not establish an attorney-client relationship with any reader.)
lol yeah if the cops get involved, the way it's going to go is you're going to show a weird wrinkled up printout to the cops, the front desk agent is going to say "that reservation was cancelled months ago, as a courtesy we have booked this guy at a similar hotel in sacramento" and the cops are going to ask you to leave, and then you're either going to leave or you are going to escalate the situation. You're not going to sue them for a billion dollars, though this is a nice fantasy daydream I'm sure. As you said, police aren't going to arbitrate a civil matter right there in the lobby so they are absolutely not going to care about any "contract" email you're waving around like it's some magical talisman, which it absolutely is not.