Township of Warrington, PA Curfew

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

Any privately owned place of business carried on for a profit or any place of amusement or entertainment to which the public is invited.

MINOR

Any person under the age of 18 years.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

OFFICIAL TIME

Eastern standard time; except from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October, it shall be Eastern daylight saving time.

OPERATOR

Any individual, firm, association, partnership, or corporation operating, managing or conducting any establishment; and whenever used in any clause prescribing a penalty, the term "operator," as applied to associations or partnerships, shall include the members or partners thereof, and as applied to corporations, shall include the officers thereof.

PARENT

Any natural parent of a minor, a guardian, or any adult person, 18 years of age or over, responsible for the care and custody of a minor.

PUBLIC PLACE

Any public street, parking lot, sidewalk, walkway, highway, road or alley, park, playground, wharf, dock, public building or vacant lot.

REMAIN

To loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in or upon.

[Amended 2-21-1995 by Ord. No. 95-3; 2-10-1998 by Ord. No. 98-2]

Unlawful conduct of minors.

(1)

No minor shall remain on or upon any public place or any establishment between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, official time.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

(2)

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any minor upon an errand or other legitimate business directed by such minor's parent or to any minor who is engaged in gainful employment during curfew hours.

Unlawful conduct of parents.

(1)

No parent shall knowingly permit any minor to remain in or upon any public place or any establishment between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, official time, except that on Fridays and Saturdays the hours shall be from 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m.

(2)

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any parent who directs a minor upon an errand or other legitimate business or to any parent of a minor engaged in gainful lawful employment during curfew hours.

Unlawful conduct of owners or operators of establishments. No operator of an establishment or his agents or employees shall knowingly permit any minor to remain upon the premises of said establishment between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, official time, except that on Fridays and Saturdays the hours shall be from 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m.

Enforcement and penalties.

(1)

Any police officer who finds a minor violating any provisions of this chapter shall obtain information from such minor as to his name and address, age and the name of his parent or parents. The minor shall thereupon be instructed to proceed to his home forthwith.

(2)

Any parent who violates the provision of Subsection B above shall be subject to the following penalties:

(a)

First offense. A written notice shall be sent to the parent or parents of the minor advising of the violation of Subsection A of this section and advising of the possible penalties if the violation occurs again. The notice shall be sent by certified mail.

(b)

Second and subsequent offenses. Any parent or parents who shall violate any provision of Subsection B above, after having received notice of a prior violation, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues or each section of this chapter which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.

(3)

Any operator of an establishment who violates the provisions of Subsection C above, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues or each section of this chapter which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense. This chapter may be enforced initially by violation ticket (citation); see Chapter 38, Ordinance Enforcement Procedures, Article II, Tickets for Certain Offenses.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]