Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

VIDEO: Hotel Desk Clerk Refuses to Serve Veteran and Calls the Police, You Won’t Believe Why
TPN ^ | 6/26/2014 | Jennifer Burke

Posted on 06/26/2014 9:01:26 AM PDT by Marie

It is a shameful act of discrimination for a business to turn away someone who returned home after being at war with battle scars that cannot be visibly seen. But, that’s precisely what happened to one veteran while vacationing in Florida. Not only is it an act of discrimination, but also what this hotel, and many others, did to this veteran is against the law. (Watch Video at the link)

Former Army Sgt. Robert Price simply wanted to find a place to sleep while he was on vacation in Daytona Beach, FL. He was not alone. He had with him his trusty companion and service dog, Walker. After serving in the Middle East and facing bomb attacks for years, Price developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Walker’s job is to assist him when in need. He is an official service dog with the proper identifying vest and paperwork. But, that didn’t matter to the desk clerk, Bina Patel, at the Budget Inn. She told Price that his dog was not allowed, and said she would call the police on him for having a dog on the premises when he wouldn’t leave.

As you can see in that video, the clerk was quite rude and cold with how she treated this veteran. But, it was even worse than what this video shows. The clerk did call the police on Price, accusing him of being an American criminal for having a dog on the property. After police arrived, Price explained the situation to them. They attempted to educate Patel on the law and the fact that she cannot turn him away. She still refused to rent Sgt. Price a room.

Going above and beyond the call of duty, one of the police officers escorted Sgt. Price to numerous hotels in an attempt to help him get a room. Curiously, every single one said they were completely booked until they got to LaQuinta Inn, which welcomed Sgt. Price and his dog Walker with open arms.

WFTV has a full interview with Sgt. Price during which he recounts what happened and says, surprisingly, this is not the first time he has had the experience of being turned away because of his service dog, Walker. However, it is the first time he was called a criminal and had the police called simply because of the presence of his service dog Walker. Patel is facing a possible misdemeanor charge, which could include a fine and jail time, for breaking the Florida law by refusing service and turning away a disabled individual and their service dog.

(watch full interview at the link)


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: disabilities; servicedogs; veterans
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last
To: Marie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Undercover_Boss_(U.S._TV_series)_episodes

There’s the link, sorry.

Budget Inn is not a franchise. You could open a hotel tomorrow and call it Budget Inn. You could not open one and just call it Comfort Inn or Days Inn unless you purchased a franchise, but since Budget Inn is NOT a franchise, anyone can use that name.

There’s probably a Budget Inn in almost every community just because a name like Budget pulls in a lot of travelers. And because there are so many, people probably do think they’re part of a chain like Days Inn.


61 posted on 06/26/2014 11:33:08 AM PDT by leapfrog0202 ("the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery" Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Marie

Thanks for telling me. I forgot to add the link. :-)


62 posted on 06/26/2014 11:35:00 AM PDT by leapfrog0202 ("the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery" Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: EQAndyBuzz
I’m on the warpath and have no problem going twitter on them. The place will be out of business within a week.

Good man!

63 posted on 06/26/2014 11:39:32 AM PDT by lonevoice (Life is short. Make fun of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: leapfrog0202

thanks!


64 posted on 06/26/2014 11:43:25 AM PDT by Marie (When are they going to take back Obama's peace prize?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Marie

Thank you! I get a little rabid about hotels, loved my job because I was able to help hotel owners improve.


65 posted on 06/26/2014 11:45:24 AM PDT by leapfrog0202 ("the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery" Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: Marie; matthew fuller

Foreigners, Muslims, people from India, Mideast, etc., have purchased most of the hotel franchises in the Midwest and all over the US.

In fact, they have bought up most of the 711 greedy mart franchises along with burger king, McDonald’s, and the rest of the fast slop joints...

While they bought up America and divided the once united, most Americans were sleeping or drunk....


66 posted on 06/26/2014 11:45:56 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bubba_Leroy
Patel is the most common surname in India. It is basically the Indian equivalent of Smith.

And Bhavin is the equivalent of Bob. America now has about the same number of Bhavin Patels as Bob Smiths.

67 posted on 06/26/2014 11:54:30 AM PDT by Reeses
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Marie
Dogs are not allowed in my store because I sell food - the exception being, of course, service dogs.

However, I have to take the word of the dog owner - not permitted to ask for proof.

68 posted on 06/26/2014 12:06:35 PM PDT by Churchillspirit (9/11/2001 and 9/11/2012: NEVER FORGET.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Marie
He is an official service dog with the proper identifying vest and paperwork. But, that didn’t matter to the desk clerk, Bina Patel, at the Budget Inn. She told Price that his dog was not allowed, and said she would call the police on him for having a dog on the premises when he wouldn’t leave.

The clerk, Bina Patel of Budget Inn should be forced to receive all medical care for the next two years from the VA... That's real punishment....

69 posted on 06/26/2014 12:12:45 PM PDT by GOPJ (Hey IRS - those receipts you wanted? The dog ate 'em. -New Name:"Washington Thinskins" -FR. coloeo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: leapfrog0202

May I ask where you stay while traveling since you know the ins and outs of the business?


70 posted on 06/26/2014 12:22:13 PM PDT by SpeakLittle_ThinkMuch (A newspaper is a device for making the ignorant more ignorant and the crazy crazier.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: matthew fuller
"The Patel family, or just people named Patel own half the motels in the USA, it seems like."

Most likely, they are Gujaratis (Indians). "Patel" is a prevalent name in Gujarat...

71 posted on 06/26/2014 12:26:10 PM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah": Satan's current alias... "Barack": Allah's current ally...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: matthew fuller

The Patel family, or just people named Patel own half the motels in the USA, it seems like.


Around here too, they are buying up all of the Convenience stores too.


72 posted on 06/26/2014 12:54:12 PM PDT by The Working Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SpeakLittle_ThinkMuch

I don’t stay with any one chain because they all have good and bad. I take my favorite chains, see what they have in the area I want to go, narrow it down by price I’m willing to pay and then check recent reviews on Trip Advisor. Then I decide.

My usual choices are:

Best Western
Wingate Inn
Holiday Inn Express
Hampton Inn and/or their family of hotels
Doubletree
Hilton Inn and/or their family of hotels

An FYI that a lot of people don’t realize, you can OFTEN get a lower rate by calling the hotel direct, not the 800 # or the website. I say often because sometimes the hotel just won’t budge on rate, but you can find a room at that hotel cheaper online. I usually look online, call the 800 # and then call the hotel.


73 posted on 06/26/2014 1:02:58 PM PDT by leapfrog0202 ("the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery" Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: WhiskeyX

There are 3 in Daytona Beach so how do you know which it was?


74 posted on 06/26/2014 1:09:21 PM PDT by leapfrog0202 ("the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery" Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: leapfrog0202

We don’t know so far, unless someone can read the business card flashed in the video.


75 posted on 06/26/2014 1:11:37 PM PDT by WhiskeyX
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: vette6387

I learned the hard way to not be in front of one of them when the doors open.


76 posted on 06/26/2014 1:36:51 PM PDT by Excellence (Marine mom since April 11, 2014)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Excellence

“I learned the hard way to not be in front of one of them when the doors open.”

Yeah, particularly if you are trying to get on or off a Tokyo subway, or and Indian train. The other thing you want to make sure you never do is get between a politician and a microphone. And that goes double if its Schmucky Chucky Schumer! It’s probably why they have ambulances at political rallies.


77 posted on 06/26/2014 1:43:05 PM PDT by vette6387
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: EQAndyBuzz

I don’t know which establishments wouldn’t cater to him. He hasn’t divulged them. He did tell that his apartment complex gave him grief until he got a lawyer involved, but that’s all I know for now. He’s going to let me know soon.


78 posted on 06/26/2014 2:01:33 PM PDT by ducttape45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: leapfrog0202
Thanks for the tips. We use 4 of the 6 you mentioned.

If only they could all be like the Sagebrush Inn in Taos. One of our favorites in the southwest.

79 posted on 06/26/2014 2:10:57 PM PDT by SpeakLittle_ThinkMuch (A newspaper is a device for making the ignorant more ignorant and the crazy crazier.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: vette6387

ROTFLOL


80 posted on 06/26/2014 2:16:37 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson