CENTENNIAL -
A trip to Florida was supposed to be filled with rest and relaxation. But it was more infuriating for a Highlands Ranch couple. Aaron and Amy Cali found a peephole in their room had been reversed. So people on the outside could look inside their room.
"This was our first vacation alone in 13 years," said Amy Cali.
The couple ended a Caribbean cruise on Valentine's night at a Quality Inn in Hollywood, Fla. The next morning, Amy got a disturbing surprise.
"I noticed a light coming from the hotel door about 3 feet up. I realized it was a peephole. I tried looking out of it and didn't see anything," says Amy. So, she went outside and looked in.
"You could see the entire hotel room, the bed, bathroom. You could see the entire room. Everything," she said.
Cali said their rights to privacy were violated. "We don't know if photos were taken. We don't know if videos were taken. We don't know who was looking, how many were looking."
It was one of two peepholes on the door. One is handicapped accessible. Izzy Fintz, Quality Inn Manager said the Americans with Disabilities Act requires the second peephole.
Hotel management believes someone tampered with the peephole. But said no one was hurt. Police apparently agreed.
"There are no suspects on scene. Surveillance video did not help at all," said Hollywood Police Lt. Manny Marino. Police explained for it to be a crime, they'd actually have to catch someone in the act of peeping. A reverse peephole, on its own, is not illegal.
"Future hotel visits, I'll check everything," Amy said.
It appears the Cali's won't be able to make a claim for any violation. But they said speaking out is some vindication. "I just hope it never happens to anyone else. In a hotel room, you have every expectation that it's private," she said.
The hotel's management said it reviewed 24 hours of surveillance video from the Cali's stay at the hotel. Managers said the video showed no one looking in their door.
They are making that video available to the Cali's lawyer in Florida.
"This was our first vacation alone in 13 years," said Amy Cali.
The couple ended a Caribbean cruise on Valentine's night at a Quality Inn in Hollywood, Fla. The next morning, Amy got a disturbing surprise.
"I noticed a light coming from the hotel door about 3 feet up. I realized it was a peephole. I tried looking out of it and didn't see anything," says Amy. So, she went outside and looked in.
"You could see the entire hotel room, the bed, bathroom. You could see the entire room. Everything," she said.
Cali said their rights to privacy were violated. "We don't know if photos were taken. We don't know if videos were taken. We don't know who was looking, how many were looking."
It was one of two peepholes on the door. One is handicapped accessible. Izzy Fintz, Quality Inn Manager said the Americans with Disabilities Act requires the second peephole.
Hotel management believes someone tampered with the peephole. But said no one was hurt. Police apparently agreed.
"There are no suspects on scene. Surveillance video did not help at all," said Hollywood Police Lt. Manny Marino. Police explained for it to be a crime, they'd actually have to catch someone in the act of peeping. A reverse peephole, on its own, is not illegal.
"Future hotel visits, I'll check everything," Amy said.
It appears the Cali's won't be able to make a claim for any violation. But they said speaking out is some vindication. "I just hope it never happens to anyone else. In a hotel room, you have every expectation that it's private," she said.
The hotel's management said it reviewed 24 hours of surveillance video from the Cali's stay at the hotel. Managers said the video showed no one looking in their door.
They are making that video available to the Cali's lawyer in Florida.
