[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Schwenksville 1-8-1998
by Ord. No. 286. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Peace and good order — See Ch. 110.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
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, or automobile accident, or any situation requiring
immediate action to prevent serious bodily injury or loss of life.
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.
Any person under 17 years of age.
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.
A person who is:
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.
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.
A.
A minor commits an offense if he remains in any public
place or on the premises of any establishment within the Borough 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 Borough
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.
A.
It is a defense to prosecution under § 75-2 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 Borough of Schwenksville,
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 Borough of Schwenksville, 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 applicable Pennsylvania law.
Before taking any enforcement action under this chapter, 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 the chapter unless the officer reasonably believes that an offense has occurred and that, based on any response and other circumstances, no defense in § 75-3 is present.
A person who violates a provision of this chapter is guilty of a separate
offense for each day or part of a day during which the violation is committed,
continued, or permitted. Each offense is punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000,
plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs,
by imprisonment for not more than 30 days.