The intent and purpose of this chapter is to promote the general
welfare and protect the general public through the reduction of juvenile
crime within the Town; to promote the safety and well-being of the
Town's juvenile citizens, persons under the age of 18, whose
inexperience renders them particularly vulnerable to becoming participants
in unlawful activities, particularly unlawful vandalism and theft,
and to being victimized by older perpetrators of crime; and foster
and strengthen parental responsibilities for children.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein:
EMERGENCY
An unforeseen circumstance or combination of circumstances
that requires immediate action. This term includes, but is not limited
to fire, natural disaster, automobile accident or any situation requiring
immediate action to prevent serious bodily injury, loss of life or
extensive property damage.
JUVENILE
Any unmarried, unemancipated person under 18 years of age.
PARENT
Any person who is the natural, step or adoptive parent of
a juvenile, a legal guardian of a juvenile, a person who is 18 years
of age or older who stands in loco parentis to a juvenile, or a person
to whom legal custody of a juvenile has been given by court order.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any place within the Town of Myersville to which the public
or a substantial group of the public has access and includes, but
is not limited to, streets, sidewalks, alleys, common areas of schools,
shopping centers, parking lots, playgrounds, transportation facilities,
theaters, restaurants, shops, bowling alleys, cafes, arcades and similar
areas that are open to the use of the public.
TOWN
The Town of Myersville, Maryland, with administrative offices
at 301 Main Street, Municipal Building, Myersville, MD 21773.
It shall be unlawful, unless otherwise provided herein, for
any juvenile to be or remain in or upon a public place within the
Town of Myersville during the following periods:
A. From 12:01 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday or Friday; and
B. From 1:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. on any Saturday or Sunday.
The following shall constitute valid exceptions and defenses
to the operation of this chapter:
A. When a juvenile is accompanied by the juvenile's parent.
B. When a juvenile is attending or returning home by a direct route
without any detour or stop from a Town event, a school activity or
any activity of a religious or civic organization, or of a place of
public entertainment, such as a movie, play or sporting event.
C. When the juvenile is engaged in a legal employment activity or is
returning from or going to his or her place of employment by a direct
route.
D. When a juvenile, with consent of his or her parent, is engaged in
travel through the Town or beginning or ending in the Town.
E. When a juvenile is on the property where the juvenile resides, or
on the sidewalk abutting the juvenile's residence.
F. When a juvenile is exercising his or her First Amendment rights protected
by the United States Constitution, including the rights of freedom
of speech, assembly and the exercise of religion.
It shall be unlawful for a parent of a juvenile to knowingly
permit the juvenile to whom he or she is the parent to remain in any
public place in violation of this chapter. The term "knowingly" includes
actual knowledge and knowledge that a parent reasonably should be
expected to have concerning the whereabouts of a juvenile in that
parent's care and custody.