Township of Manor, PA Curfew

Manor Township, recognizing the problem of Crimes Committee by and committed against juveniles during the nighttime and believing that it can be dealt with more effectively by regulating the hours during which minors less than 18 years of age may remain in public places and certain establishments without adult supervision, and by defining more clearly certain duties and responsibilities upon those who have the custody and responsibility for the care of such minors, hereby enacts this chapter for the purpose of:

Promoting the general welfare and protecting the general public through reduction of juvenile violence and crime within Manor Township;

Promoting the safety and welfare of Manor Township's citizens under the age of 18 whose youth and inexperience renders them particularly vulnerable to becoming participants in criminal activity and in being victimized by perpetrators of crime; and

Fostering and strengthening parental responsibility for children.

§ 178-3 Definitions.

In this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

AFTER HOURS

The period of time between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights, and 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

EMERGENCY

Refers to unforeseen circumstances, or the status or condition resulting therefrom, requiring immediate action to safeguard life, limb, or property. The term includes, but is not limited to, fires, natural disaster, automobile accidents, or other similar circumstances.

ESTABLISHMENT

Any privately owned place of business operated for profit, including any place of amusement or entertainment, to which the public is invited.

MINOR

Any person less than 18 years of age. For the purpose of this chapter, any person shall be deemed to be 18 years of age on the date of his or her 18 birthday and not before this time.

OPERATOR

Any individual, firm, association, partnership, or corporation owning, operating, managing, or conducting any establishment. Whenever used in any provision prescribing a penalty, the word "operator" shall include the members, partners, officers, and managers of any firm, association, partnership, or corporation.

PARENT

The biological or adoptive parent or a minor; a legal guardian; or an adult person 21 years of age or over and who is authorized by a minor's parent or legal guardian to be responsible, either temporarily or permanently, for the custody or care of any minor or for the control of such minor.

PUBLIC PLACE

Any public street, highway, road, alley, park, playground, vacant lot, or any private building, structure or area to which the public is invited or in which the public is allowed to remain.

REMAIN

To be at or stay at a place.

§ 178-4 Unlawful conduct of minor.

It shall be unlawful for a minor to remain in or upon any public place or to remain in any motor vehicle operating or parked therein or thereon, or to remain in or upon an establishment in Manor Township after hours except as follows:

The minor is accompanied by a parent;

The minor is involved in an emergency;

The minor is engaged in an activity, related to his or her employment, or is going to or returning home from such activity, without detour or stop;

The minor is on the sidewalk directly abutting a place where he or she resides with a parent;

The minor is attending an activity sponsored by a school, religious, or civic organization, by a public organization or agency, or by another similar organization or entity, which activity is supervised by adults, and/or the minor is going to or returning from such an activity without detour or stop;

The minor is on an errand at the direction of a parent, and the minor has in his or her possession a written statement signed by the parent containing the following information: the name, signature, address and telephone number of the parent authorizing the errand, the telephone number where the parent may be reached during the errand, the name of the minor, a brief description of the errand, the minor's destination(s) and the hours the minor is authorized to be engaged in the errand; no minor or parent shall falsify the documents described above;

The minor is involved in interstate travel through or beginning or terminating in Manor Township; or

The minor is 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.

§ 178-5 Unlawful conduct of parents.

No parent shall knowingly permit any minor to remain in or upon any public place or establishment after hours unless the minor is engaged in an activity permitted under § 178-4 of this chapter. "Knowingly" shall mean knows or has reason to know.

§ 178-6 Unlawful conduct of operators of establishments.

No operator of an establishment shall knowingly permit any minor to remain upon the premises of such establishment after hours.

§ 178-7 Rules and regulations.

The Chief of Police is hereby authorized from time to time to promulgate such rules and regulations, including the extension of hours for special occasions, as in his or her opinion shall be necessary or useful in the enforcement of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall, however, be subject to the approval of Manor Township.

§ 178-8 Offenses.

Each violation of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.

§ 178-9 Violations and penalties.

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 this section unless the officer reasonably believes that an offense has occurred and that, based on any response and other circumstances, no exception set forth in § 178-4 applies.

Any minor or parent who violates the provisions of this chapter for the first time may be issued a citation. The minor may be taken into temporary custody, in which case his or her parents or other appropriate person shall be notified and the minor shall be released into the custody of the appropriate parent or parents of the minor or to a brother or sister 18 years of age or older. If no such person is available after reasonable efforts have been made to locate such person, then the minor shall be released to such agencies or institutions as are established for juvenile welfare.

Any minor or parent who violates any provisions of this chapter is guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to fine or imprisonment as follows:

(1)

First offense: up to $10.

(2)

Second offense: up to $25.

(3)

Third offense: up to $50.

(4)

Fourth offense: up to $100. Parents are subject to imprisonment up to 90 days and minors to referral to the juvenile court system.

(5)

Fifth and subsequent offenses: up to $300. Parents are subject to imprisonment up to 90 days and minors to referral to the juvenile court system.

Any operator convicted of violating the provisions of this chapter for the first time shall be fined $50 and shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days. Any operator convicted of violating the provisions of this chapter for the second or subsequent time shall be fined $300 and shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days.

§ 178-10 Annual review.

This chapter and the need for it shall be reviewed annually. By January 2, 2002, and each year thereafter, the Mayor and/or the Chief of Police of Manor Township shall review this chapter and report and make recommendations to Manor Township concerning the effectiveness of and the continuing need for this chapter. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

The practicality of enforcing the chapter and any problems with enforcement identified by the Manor Township Police Department.

The impact of this chapter and support programs on juvenile crime statistics.

Number of juveniles taken into custody for curfew violations.

Number of official citizen complaints filed regarding the enforcement of this chapter.