[HISTORY: Adopted by the City of Council of the City of Chester 3-15-1966 by Ord. No. 12-1966 (Art. 721 of the 1978 Codified Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 3-15-1966 by Ord. No. 12-1966; 9-26-1996 by Ord. No. 31-1996]
Certain words as used in this chapter are defined as follows:
ESTABLISHMENT
Means any privately owned place of business carried on for a profit or any place of amusement or entertainment to which the public is invited.
EXCUSED ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL
Means
A. 
An absence that shall be excluded from:
(1) 
Counting toward the accrual of days that deny students the privilege of attending the secondary summer school program; and
(2) 
Counting toward the accrual of days that lead to court action or dropping the student from the school register.
B. 
Examples of excused absences are: illness, death in the family, and religious holidays, and approved college visitation for high school seniors.
MINOR
Means any person under the age of 18 years.
OFFICIAL CITY TIME
Means Eastern Standard Time except from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October when it means Eastern Daylight Saving Time.
OPERATOR
Means any individual, firm, association, partnership or corporation operating, managing or conducting any establishment. When used in any clause prescribing a penalty, the term "operator" as applied to association or partnership includes the members or partners thereof and as applied to corporation, includes the officers thereof.
PARENT
Means any natural parent of a minor, a guardian or any adult person, 21 years of age or over, responsible for the care and custody of a minor.
PUBLIC PLACE
Means any public street, highway, road, alley, park, playground, wharf, dock, public building or vacant lot.
REMAIN
Means to loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in or upon any establishment or public place.
[Amended 7-14-2010 by Ord. No. 9-2010]
A. 
Night curfew between the dates of September 1st through May 31st each year. Between the dates of September 1st through May 31st of any year, no minor shall remain in or upon any public place or any establishment between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, official City time; except on Fridays and Saturdays, the hours shall be from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
B. 
Night curfew between the dates of June 1st through August 31st each year. No minor shall remain in or upon any public place or any establishment between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, official City time, from June 1st through August 31st in any year.
C. 
Exceptions. In the following cases, a minor shall not be considered in violation of this section:
(1) 
When going to or returning home from a school activity or an organized religious activity.
(2) 
When going to or returning home from a place of employment.
(3) 
When engaged in interstate travel beginning or ending in the City.
(4) 
When accompanied by a parent.
[Amended 9-26-1996 by Ord. No. 31-1996; 7-14-2010 by Ord. No. 9-2010]
A. 
No parent shall knowingly permit any minor to remain in or upon any public place or establishment during the hours prohibited by § 206-2A or B.
B. 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any parent who accompanies a minor, or to a 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 the curfew hours.
C. 
No parent, as defined in this chapter, of any children over the age of five years and under the age of 18 years shall permit such child to remain in or upon any public place or establishment outside any school grounds between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. every Monday through Friday while school is in session during the school year.
[Amended 9-26-1996 by Ord. No. 31-1996; 7-14-2010 by Ord. No. 9-2010]
A. 
No operator, as defined in this chapter, or his agents or employees shall knowingly permit any child under the age of 18 years to remain upon the premises of their establishment between the curfew hours set forth in § 206-2A or B unless accompanied by an adult or unless the child is an employee engaged in employment activities or present as part of a school sponsored program.
B. 
No operators, as defined in this chapter or his agents or employees shall knowingly permit any child over the age of five years and under the age of 18 to remain upon the premises of his establishment between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. every Monday through Friday while school is in session during the school year, unless the child is an employee engaged in employment activities, or the child is present as part of a school sponsored program.
[Amended 9-26-1996 by Ord. No. 31-1996]
A. 
No minor over the age of five years and under the age of 18 years shall remain in or upon any public place or establishment outside any school grounds between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. every Monday through Friday while school is in session during the school year.
B. 
Exceptions. In the following cases, a minor shall not be considered in violation of this section:
(1) 
During an excused absence.
(2) 
During an approved early dismissal from school.
(3) 
When the student is enrolled in an approved work-experience program.
(4) 
When the student is officially removed from the school register.
(5) 
Parochial and private school students who have different school hours or different holiday and vacation schedules during time while those schools are not in session.
[Amended 6-6-1990 by Ord. No. 4-1990; 8-14-1997 by Ord. No. 12-1997]
A. 
Any minor who is found guilty of violating § 206-2 or 206-5 shall be fined not more than $300 and costs for each offense, and in default of payment thereof shall be referred to juvenile court for adjudication.
B. 
Any parent who violates any provision of § 206-3 shall be fined not more than $600 and costs for each violation and in default of payment thereafter. Shall be imprisoned not more than 90 days.
C. 
Any operator of an establishment and any agent or employee thereof who violates any provision of § 206-4 shall be fined not more than $600 and costs for each violation and, in default of payment thereof, shall be imprisoned not more than 90 days.
D. 
Any violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.