[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Washington
10-26-1995 by Ord. No. 26-1995 as Sec. 4-3 of the 1994 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Peace and good order — See Ch. 168.
It shall be unlawful hereafter for any person under the age of 18 years to loiter, idle, wander, stroll, play or remain in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, playgrounds, public buildings, places of amusement, entertainment or places of business conducted for profit to which the public is invited, and all public or quasi-public places, either on foot or in any vehicle, within the Township of Washington, on Sunday through Thursday, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and on Friday and Saturday, between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m.; provided, however, that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any such minor when accompanied by his/her parent(s), guardian or other adult person having custody, care or control of such minor, or as otherwise excepted in § 63-4.
It shall be unlawful for any parent, guardian or other adult person having custody, care or control of a child under the age of 18 years to knowingly permit such minor to loiter, idle, wander, stroll, play or remain in or upon the public streets, highways, roads and other public or quasi-public places within the Township during the times set forth in § 63-1 above.
Assigned police officers of the Township shall notify the parents, guardian
or other person having the care, custody or control of such minor of any arrest
by written notification, serving notice that such arrest was for violation
of this chapter. The letter should serve as first notice, and that any subsequent
violations within one year of notice will result in complaints being signed
against the parent or guardian for appearance in Municipal Court.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable
to any person under the age of 18 years during the time necessarily required
for such minor to travel from any of the following to his/her residence.
(1)
A place of employment at which such minor may be gainfully
employed.
(2)
A school or place of instruction at which such minor
may be in bona fide attendance.
(3)
A place at which a function may be held that shall be
or had been sponsored by a religious, school, civic or other properly supervised
event or program.
(4)
A place at which a bona fide, supervised social meeting,
gathering or assemblage had taken place for which the minor has in his/her
possession the written approval of his/her parent or guardian to attend such
specific event with such parent's or guardian's signature.
B.
The abuse of the provisions of this section shall constitute
a violation of the provisions of this chapter, punishable as hereinafter provided.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable
to any person under the age of 18 years if the minor is involved in errands
involving medical emergencies requiring the minor's presence in, on or upon
a street or automobile or in any public or quasi-public place during the curfew
hours herein established.
B.
The abuse of the provisions of this section shall constitute
a violation of the provisions of this chapter, punishable as hereinafter provided.
If it should be established that any person under the age of 18 years
remained idle, loitered, wandered, strolled or remained in, on or upon any
of the public or quasi-public places within the Township in violation of the
provisions of this chapter, then it shall be presumed, in the absence of proof
to the contrary, that the parent or other adult having the care, control or
custody of such minor knowingly permitted such minor to do so.
Any person or persons found guilty of violating any of the provisions
of this chapter shall be required to perform community service. If both a
person under the age of 18 years and the minor's parent or guardian violate
any of the provisions of this chapter, they both shall be required to perform
community service together. Community service may include attending parenting
skills programs provided by the Youth Services Commission. Any person(s) found
guilty of violating any provisions of this chapter may also be subject to
a fine of up to $1,000.
