[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Fishkill
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 10-16-1997 by L.L. No. 4-1997]
Each year on Halloween and proximate dates, the Town of Fishkill
is besieged by youths who congregate and rampage through sections
of the Town creating problems for Town residents, including acts of
vandalism, nuisance, mischief, intimidation and disorderly conduct
which cause, or threaten, personal injury and property damage. During
recent years, the number of complaints received from Town residents
regarding such conduct has increased. In addition, the Town finds
that many of such youths are nonresidents who are invited or attracted
to the Town and who refuse to disperse, due to the fact that there
was no law requiring them to be off the streets. The complaints received
highlight the fact that the safety and welfare of Town residents were
in jeopardy on these days. The Town Board believes that the only effective
way to control the situation is to impose a limited curfew which will
protect public property and the personal well-being of its residents.
It is hoped that the curfew will serve to discontinue this disturbing
tendency of youths to congregate for purposes of vandalism, nuisance,
mischief, intimidation and disorderly conduct in the Town so that
a curfew law will be unnecessary.
For the purposes of this article, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein:
Any person over the age of 21 who is in loco parentis to
a minor.
Any person other than a parent who has legal guardianship
of a minor.
Any person under the age of 18.
The natural or adoptive parent of a minor.
Include, but are not limited to, recreational and other places
whether privately or publicly owned and open to the general public,
including parking lots, and those places visited by and accessible
to the public.
A way or place, of whatever nature, open to the use of the
public as a matter of right for purposes of vehicular travel or, in
the case of a sidewalk thereof, for pedestrian travel. Such terms
include the legal right-of-way, including but not limited to traffic
lanes, curbs, sidewalks, whether paved or unpaved, and any grass plots
or other grounds found within the legal right-of-way of a street,
road or highway. Such terms apply irrespective to what they are called
or formally named, whether alley, avenue, court, drive, boulevard
or otherwise.
The Town of Fishkill.
During the evening hours of October 30, October 31 and November
1, from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., prevailing time, or any other period
that the Town Board deems necessary, it shall be unlawful for any
minor to congregate, stroll, wander, play or operate a motor vehicle
in, about or upon any public park, public area, street, road or highway
in the Town.
The following circumstances shall constitute valid exceptions to the operation of the curfew specified in § 55-3:
A.Â
If a minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian, custodian or other
adult person having custody or control of such minor.
B.Â
If a minor is on an emergency errand.
C.Â
If the presence of a minor is required in connection with some legal
employment; provided, however, that the minor is carrying a written
statement from the employer briefly identifying the minor and attesting
to the place and hours of the minor's employment.
D.Â
If the minor is attending or participating in an adult-supervised
event or function sponsored by a church, school, civic, not-for-profit,
recreational or entertainment organization; provided, however, that
the minor is carrying a written statement from the sponsor of the
event or function attesting to the place and hours of such event or
function and the attendance or participation of such minor therein.
Subject to the exceptions set forth in this article, it shall
be unlawful for the parent, guardian or other adult person having
custody or control of any minor under the age of 18 to permit or,
by inefficient control, to allow such minor to congregate, stroll,
wander, play or operate a motor vehicle in, about or upon any public
park, public area, street, road or highway in the Town.
For each and every offense of the provisions of this article,
the person violating the same shall be guilty of a violation and shall
be punished by not more than a fine of $250 or by imprisonment for
not more than 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
