The Maplewood Township Committee finds and declares that the uncontrolled
and unsupervised activities of minor persons within the Township of Maplewood
are detrimental to the maintenance of public safety and contrary to the general
welfare. It is further found and declared that parental responsibility for
the proper control and supervision of minor children is essential to effective
law enforcement within the Township.
The following word meanings shall apply herein:
MINOR
Any unemancipated person under the age of 18 years.
PARENT
Includes either or both natural parents of a minor, the legal guardians
of the minor or any other adult persons who have voluntarily or otherwise
assumed the responsibilities of a natural parent with respect to custody,
care and control of the minor. For the purposes of the enforcement of this
chapter, the term "parent" shall not apply to natural parents, legal guardians
or other persons whose responsibility for the custody and control of the minor
has been transferred to another person or otherwise terminated by court order
or by the emancipation of the minor by marriage, military service or other
circumstances. Persons claiming the benefit of any such termination or transfer
of responsibilities shall bear the burden of establishing the same in any
proceedings hereunder.
VIOLATION OF THE PUBLIC PEACE
Any violation of the statutes of New Jersey or the ordinances of
the Township of Maplewood, including but not limited to any of the following
acts: defacing, damaging or destroying public property or the private property
of another within the Township of Maplewood; or committing an assault or assault
and battery upon another in the Township of Maplewood; robbery, stealing or
larceny including shoplifting; knowingly receiving stolen property; violation
of any existing loitering or curfew laws of the Township; or breaking and
entering or entering without breaking into the property of another with the
intent to steal; or threatening another with the intent of extorting money
or anything of value; or possession or use of a controlled dangerous substance,
as same shall be defined under N.J.S.A. 24:21-1 et seq., or juvenile delinquency
based upon any of the above offenses.
[Amended 1-16-2007 by Ord. No. 2381-07]
A. It is prohibited for any parent to assist, aid, abet, allow,
permit, suffer or encourage a minor to commit a violation of the public peace,
as defined herein, either by overt act, by failure to act or by lack of supervision
and control over the minor. Whenever a minor shall be taken into custody or
detained for the commission of any such violation of the public peace, within
the Township of Maplewood, the parents of such minor shall be immediately
notified by the Police Department of such custody or detention and the reasons
therefor and for the responsibility of the parents under this chapter and
should be advised of the availability of counseling services.
B. In addition to those procedures established as a deterrent to
juvenile acts of vandalism and to parental neglect of child supervision pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 2A:53A-14, if there has been such notification, two subsequent
violations of the public peace by the same minor within a one-hundred-eighty-day
period, the parent of the minor shall be responsible to make financial reimbursement
to the victim for any damages suffered by the victim.
C. The Court shall determine the amount of restitution to be made
within a prescribed period, not to exceed 30 days.
[Amended 1-16-2007 by Ord. No. 2381-07]
Any person who fails to comply with an order for restitution as hereinabove
set forth shall be deemed in violation of this chapter and shall be in contempt
of court and subject to a fine of not more than $1,000.