The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Curfew hours.
(1)
10:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
until 6:00 a.m. of the following day; and
(2)
12:01 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. on any Saturday or Sunday.
Emergency.
An unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting
state that calls for immediate action. The term includes but is not
limited to a fire, a natural disaster, an automobile accident, or
any situation requiring immediate action to prevent serious bodily
injury or loss of life.
Establishment.
Any privately owned place of business operated for a profit
to which the public is invited, including but not limited to any place
of amusement or entertainment.
Guardian.
(1)
A person who, under court order, is the guardian of the person
of a minor; or
(2)
A public or private agency with whom a minor has been placed
by a court.
Minor.
Any person under 17 years of age.
Operator.
Any individual, firm, association, partnership or corporation
operating, managing or conducting any establishment. The term includes
the members or partners of an association or partnership and the officers
of a corporation.
Parent.
A person who is:
(1)
A natural parent, adoptive parent, or stepparent of another
person; or
(2)
At least 18 years of age and authorized by a parent or guardian
to have the care and custody of a minor.
Public place.
Any place to which the public or a substantial group of the
public has access, and includes but is not limited to streets, highways
and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office
buildings, transport facilities and shops.
Remain.
To:
(2)
Fail to leave premises when requested to do so by a police officer
or the owner, operator or other person in control of the premises.
Serious bodily injury.
Bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or
that causes death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted
loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
(Ordinance 458, sec. I(A), adopted 4/15/08)
(a) A
minor commits an offense if he remains in any public place or on the
premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours.
(b) A
parent or guardian of a minor commits an offense if he knowingly permits,
or by insufficient control allows, the minor to remain in any public
place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during
curfew hours.
(c) The
owner, operator or any employee of an establishment commits an offense
if he knowingly allows a minor to remain upon the premises of the
establishment during curfew hours.
(Ordinance 458, sec. I(B), adopted 4/15/08)
(a) It is a defense to prosecution under section
8.02.032 of this division that the minor was:
(1) Accompanied by the minor’s parent or guardian;
(2) On an errand at the direction of the minor’s parent or guardian,
without any detour or stop;
(3) In a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel;
(4) Engaged in an employment activity, or going to or returning home
from an employment activity, without any detour or stop;
(5) Involved in an emergency;
(6) On the sidewalk abutting the minor’s residence or abutting
the residence of a next-door neighbor if the neighbor did not complain
to the police department about the minor’s presence;
(7) Attending an official school, religious or other recreational activity
supervised by adults and sponsored by the city, a civic organization,
or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor,
or going to or returning home from, without any detour or stop, an
official school, religious or other recreational activity supervised
by adults and sponsored by the city, a civic organization, or another
similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor;
(8) Exercising First Amendment rights protected by the United States
Constitution, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech,
and the right of assembly; or
(9) Married or had been married or had disabilities of minority removed
in accordance with V.T.C.A., Family Code chapter 31.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under section
8.02.032(c) of this division that the owner, operator or employee of an establishment promptly notified the police department that a minor was present on the premises of the establishment during curfew hours and refused to leave.
(Ordinance 458, sec. I(C), adopted 4/15/08)
Before taking any enforcement action under this division, a police officer shall ask the apparent offender’s age and reason for being in the public place. The officer shall not issue a citation or make an arrest under this division unless the officer reasonably believes that an offense has occurred and that, based on any response and other circumstances, no defense set forth in section
8.02.033 is present.
(Ordinance 458, sec. I(D), adopted 4/15/08)
This division expires April 16, 2011, unless sooner terminated
or extended by city council ordinance.
(Ordinance 458, sec. I(E), adopted 4/15/08)