[Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Pittsfield as indicated
in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-13-1997 as §§ 3.101 to 3.108 of the 1997 Code]
No child under the age of 18 years shall loiter, idle or remain
upon any street, alley or public place in the Town between 10:00 p.m.
and 6:00 a.m. the next day unless such child is accompanied by his
parent, guardian or other adult person having legal custody of such
child.
A.
This article shall not apply to a child:
(1)
Performing an errand as directed by a parent, guardian or person
having lawful custody.
(2)
Who is on his own premises or the areas immediately adjacent thereto.
(3)
Whose employment makes it necessary to be upon the streets, alleys,
public places or any motor vehicle after such hour.
(4)
Returning home from a supervised school, church or civic function.
B.
These exceptions shall not, however, permit a child to unnecessarily
loiter about the streets, alleys or public places or be in a parked
vehicle on the public street.
No parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of
a child under the age of 18 years shall permit or suffer such child
to loiter, idle or remain upon any street, alley or other public place
in the Town between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the next day, unless
such child is accompanied by his parent, guardian or other adult person
having legal custody of such child.
No person operating a place of amusement or entertainment within
the Town, or agent, servant, or employee of such person, shall permit
a child under the age of 18 years to enter or loiter in such place
of amusement or entertainment between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the
next day unless such child is accompanied by his or her parent, guardian,
or other adult person having legal custody of such child.
No person operating a hotel, motel, or lodging or rooming house
within the Town, or any agent, servant or employee of such person,
shall permit any child under the age of 18 years to visit, idle, wander
or stroll in any portion of such hotel, motel, rooming house or lodge
between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the next day unless such child is
accompanied by his parent, guardian or other adult person having legal
custody of such child.
No person not in official attendance or not on official school
business shall enter into, congregate, loiter, wander, stroll, stand
or play in any school building or in or about any playground area
adjacent thereto within the Town between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on
official school days.
A child believed to be violating the provisions of this article shall be taken to the County Sheriff's Department for proper identification. Every law enforcement officer while on duty may detain any child violating §§ 158-1, 158-4, 158-5 and 158-6 until such time as the parent, guardian, or other adult person having legal custody of the child shall be immediately notified and the person so notified shall, as soon as reasonably possible thereafter, report to the Sheriff's office to take the child into custody and shall sign a release for him/her.
The first time a child is detained by law enforcement officers as provided in § 158-7, a parent, guardian, or person having legal custody shall be advised as to the provisions of this article, and any violation of this article occurring thereafter by this child or any other child under such person's care or custody shall result in a penalty being imposed as herein provided.
A.
Any parent, guardian or person having legal custody of a child described in §§ 158-1, 158-4, 158-5 and 158-6 who has been warned in the manner provided in § 158-8 and who thereafter violates any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $75 nor more than $1,000 for each offense. No violation of this article shall be construed to be a misdemeanor, nor shall imprisonment be imposed as a punishment for violation of this article, except for failure of the defendant to pay the forfeiture imposed by the court.[1]
