The council finds, determines and declares that this chapter has been enacted based upon the following facts and purposes:
A. 
School absenteeism is a problem that plagues our schools and creates a burden for all communities throughout the city.
B. 
Students who are absent from school without a valid excuse are denied an education.
C. 
The unexcused absences of students from school result in the loss of state and federal funding to the detriment of all students.
D. 
Unsupervised students involve themselves in unsafe activities by loitering in residential neighborhoods, business districts and malls.
E. 
Unsupervised students engage in criminal activity to the detriment of the community such as residential burglaries, auto thefts, bicycle thefts, vandalism and other visible signs of disorder.
F. 
Unsupervised students become a burden on police who must return them to school, wait for parents to pick them up, and investigate any and all criminal activity related to a student's absenteeism.
G. 
The city has a compelling interest in protecting the public from juveniles committing crimes, increasing the exercise of parental responsibility for the city's children, in reducing the opportunities for juvenile crime, and in improving school attendance. Over the past five years the city has experienced a direct correlation between school attendance and daytime juvenile crime. When school attendance increases, daytime juvenile crime decreases. Conversely, a drop in school attendance correlates to an increase in juvenile crime during school hours.
H. 
It is, therefore, the intent of the city council in enacting this chapter to prohibit any minor under the age of eighteen, who is subject to compulsory education or compulsory continuation education, subject to specific exceptions related herein, from loitering in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, or other public grounds between the hours of seven-thirty a.m. and two-thirty p.m. on days when the student's school is in session, subject to the exceptions and terms of this chapter.
I. 
It is further the intent of the city council to provide appropriate criminal sanctions against any minor or parent or guardian who violates the ordinance codified in this chapter by making a violation of this chapter an infraction.
J. 
It is the intent of the city council to allow minors under the age of eighteen to move about freely while participating in legitimate activities, and to pursue legitimate activities during the hours of seven-thirty a.m. and two-thirty p.m. with the permission of his or her parent, guardian, or other adult person having the lawful care and custody of the minor.
(Ord. 2000-10 § 1)
A. 
It is unlawful for any minor under the age of eighteen years, who is subject to compulsory education or to compulsory continuation education, alone or in concert with others, to be in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, parking areas, or other public grounds, public places or amusement and eating places, vacant lots or other unsupervised places or any place open to the public, between the hours of seven-thirty a.m. and two-thirty p.m. on days when the minor's school is in session. This provision shall also apply to minors whose enrollment status is that of suspension, expulsion, or transfers in progress.
B. 
It is unlawful for a parent or guardian of a minor who is subject to the penalties set forth in this chapter to knowingly permit or allow a minor to be in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 2000-10 § 1)
Neither the minor nor the parents or guardians of the minor shall be liable under Section 9.16.020 if one or more of the following circumstances exist:
A. 
The minor is accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian;
B. 
The minor is involved in an emergency;
C. 
The minor is going directly to or coming directly from the minor's place of gainful employment with a valid school work permit;
D. 
The minor is going to or from a medical appointment for the minor or for the minor's parent or guardian and can show proof of that appointment;
E. 
The minor is off campus for lunch and has in his/her possession a valid, school-issued off campus permit; and has conformed to all the conditions and restrictions of the lunch pass;
F. 
The minor is directly going to or from a school sponsored event or activity such as a sporting event, field trip, or other such school activity;
G. 
The minor is emancipated pursuant to law;
H. 
The minor is authorized to be absent from his or her school pursuant to the provisions of California Education Code Section 48205, or any other applicable State or Federal law;
I. 
The minor is receiving instruction by a qualified tutor pursuant to California Education Code Section 48224, or is receiving home or private school instruction pursuant to California Education Code Section 48222.
(Ord. 2000-10 § 1)
Before taking any enforcement action under this section a police officer shall ask the minor's age and reason for being in the public place or other location covered under this section during the hours of seven-thirty a.m. and two-thirty p.m. of the same day on days when the minor's school is in session. The officer shall not issue a citation or make an arrest under this section unless the officer reasonably believes that an offense has occurred and that, based on any responses and other circumstances, no defense under this section is applicable.
(Ord. 2000-10 § 1)
Each violation of any of the provisions set forth herein shall constitute a separate offense and shall be classified as an infraction.
(Ord. 2000-10 § 1)
Any minor violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punished as follows:
A. 
First-Offense Infraction. The initial violation of this section shall be deemed to be an infraction and upon a sustained finding thereon shall be punished by a fine to be determined by the court not to exceed one hundred dollars and/or any other penalty provided by Welfare and Institutions Code Section 258.
B. 
Second-Offense Infraction. The second violation of this section within the same year shall be deemed to be an infraction and upon a sustained finding thereof shall be punished by a fine to be determined by the court not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars and/or any other penalty provided by Welfare and Institutions Code Section 258.
C. 
Thirdor Subsequent-Offense Infraction. The third or subsequent violation of this section occurring within the same year shall be deemed to be an infraction and upon a sustained finding thereof shall be punished by a fine to be determined by the court not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars and/or any other penalty provided by Welfare and Institutions Code Section 258.
D. 
The court may set aside the penalties set forth herein if the minor produces proof satisfactory to the court that the following has occurred:
1. 
The minor has had no unexcused absences from school from the date of citation; and
2. 
The minor has performed twenty hours of court-approved community service during times other than the minor's hours of school attendance; and
3. 
The minor's parent or guardian has attended a parenting class or a series of parenting classes approved by the court; and
4. 
The minor and parent or guardian have attended counseling as directed and approved by the court.
(Ord. 2000-10 § 1)
A minor cited for a violation of this chapter must attend a court hearing on the violation and must be accompanied at the hearing by his/her parent or guardian. If any such parent or guardian fails to attend the hearing with the minor, and unless the interests of justice would otherwise be served, the court shall continue the hearing and shall issue a citation to the parental or custodial person directing that person to appear at the continued hearing with the minor (pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 661).
(Ord. 2000-10 § 1)
The punishment for each violation of this chapter shall be as follows:
A. 
First-Offense Infraction. The initial violation of this chapter shall be deemed to be an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine to be determined by the court not to exceed one hundred dollars.
B. 
Second-Offense Infraction. The second violation of this chapter occurring within the same year shall be deemed to be an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine to be determined by the court not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars.
C. 
Thirdor Subsequent-Offense Infraction. The third or subsequent violation of this chapter occurring within the same year shall be deemed to be an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine to be determined by the court not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars.
D. 
The court may set aside the penalties set forth herein if the parent or guardian produces proof satisfactory to the court that the following has occurred:
1. 
The minor has had no unexcused absences from the school from the date of citation; and
2. 
The parent or guardian has performed twenty hours of court-approved community service; and
3. 
The parent or guardian has attended a parenting class or a series of parenting classes approved by the court; and
4. 
The minor and parent or guardian have attended counseling as directed and approved by the court.
(Ord. 2000-10 § 1)
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall be defined as follows:
"Emergency"
means an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action. The term includes, but is not limited to the following: a fire, a natural disaster, an automobile accident, or any situation requiring immediate action to prevent serious bodily injury, hardship or loss of life.
"Guardian"
means:
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 the minor has been placed by court order; or
3. 
A person at least eighteen years of age exercising care and custody of the minor and having written authorization to do so.
"Minor"
means any person between the ages of six and eighteen years of age.
"Parent"
means any person who is a natural parent, adopting parent, or stepparent of a minor.
"Public place"
means any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access including, but not limited to, streets, highways, beaches, parks, playgrounds, and common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities, theaters, game rooms, shops, shopping malls, or any other public place of business.
"Street"
means a way or place, of whatever nature, open to the use of the public as a matter of right for the purpose of vehicular travel or in the case of a sidewalk thereof for pedestrian travel. The term "street" includes the legal right-of-way, including but not limited to the traffic lanes, curbs, sidewalk, whether paved or unpaved, and any grass plots or other grounds found within the legal right-of-way of a street. The term "street" applies irrespective of what the legal right-of-way is formally named or called, whether alley, avenue, court, road or otherwise.
(Ord. 2000-10 § 1)