The Township of Hamilton finds and declares that children who are left
unsupervised during the overnight hours may be exposed to the most detrimental
influences in society and that the allure of the rampant drug counterculture,
the potential for involvement in criminal activity and other potential threats
to the physical and mental health and welfare of children justify governmental
action in furtherance of the protection of one of the most fragile and easily
influenced segments of our society. The Township of Hamilton further finds
and declares that it is in the best interest of society to encourage family
unity, to encourage the family unit to provide for the care, protection and
wholesome mental and physical development of children, to encourage the supervision
of children by their parents and guardians and to encourage communication
between them.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
GUARDIAN
A person other than a parent to whom legal custody of the juvenile
has been given by court order or who is acting in the place of the parent
or is responsible for the care and welfare of the juvenile.
JUVENILE
Any individual who is under the age of 18 years.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any place to which the public has access, including but not limited
to a public street, road, thoroughfare, sidewalk, bridge, alley, plaza, park,
recreation or shopping area, public transportation facility, vehicle used
for public transportation, parking lot or any other public building, structure
or area.
If any parent or guardian allows an unaccompanied juvenile to be on
a public street or in a public place in violation of the terms and provisions
of this chapter, said parent or guardian shall be in violation of this chapter.
It shall not be a violation of this chapter if any juvenile is in a
public place or on a public street during the hours which are in violation
of this chapter if said juvenile is in said public place or on said public
street while engaging an errand involving a medical emergency or attending
extracurricular school activities or activities sponsored by religious or
community based organizations or other cultural, educational or social events
which occur during hours of curfew as detailed in this chapter.
Any policeman of the Township of Hamilton is hereby authorized and empowered
to take into custody any such minor child who is in violation of the provisions
of chapter. Such officer shall notify the parent or guardian of said juvenile
of the violation and may issue a summons concerning said violation to the
offending juvenile in accordance with the provisions set forth herein below.
If said juvenile has not been charged with additional offenses which would
require said juvenile's detention, then the juvenile shall be released into
the custody of the parent or guardian.