[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Oxford 12-30-1974; amended in its entirety 11-20-1997 by Ord. No. 97-12 (Ch.
45 of the 1974 Township Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter establishing a curfew
for children is to help prevent truancy, juvenile delinquency and
crime in the Township while, at the same time, safeguarding the constitutional
rights of such children and encouraging school attendance.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any person under the age of 18 years.
Any privately owned place of business carried on for profit
or any place of amusement or entertainment to which the public is
invited.
An absence that shall be excluded from counting toward the
accrual of days that deny students the privilege of attending the
secondary summer school program and counting toward the accrual of
days that lead to court action or dropping the student from the school's
register. Examples of excused absences are illness, death in the family
and religious holidays and approved college visitation for high school
seniors.
Any individual, firm, association, partnership or corporation operating, managing or conducting any establishment. The term "operator," as used in the penalty provisions of § 157-9 and applied to a partnership, association or corporation, shall include the partners of the partnership, the members of the association and the officers of the corporation.
Any natural parent of any child, a guardian or any adult
person of the age of 21 years or older who is responsible for the
care, custody and control of any child.
Any place to which the public has access, including but not
limited to a public street, road, thoroughfare, sidewalk, bridge,
alley, plaza, park, recreation or shopping area, public transportation
facility, vehicles used for public transportation, parking lot or
any other public building, structure or area.
To loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in or upon any establishment
or public place.
No child under the age of 18 years shall remain in or upon any public place or establishment after the hour of 10:00 p.m. on each and every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday until 6:00 a.m. of the following morning or after the hour of 11:00 p.m. on each and every Friday and Saturday until 6:00 a.m. on the following morning, unless accompanied by the parent as defined in § 157-2 of this chapter.
In the following cases, a minor shall not be considered in violation of § 157-3:
A.
When returning home from an educational, social or
cultural activity sponsored by school or religious/community organizations.
B.
When returning home from a place of employment.
C.
When engaged in interstate travel beginning or ending
in the Township.
D.
When engaged in an errand relating to a medical emergency.
No child 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.
In the following cases, a student shall not be considered in violation of § 157-5:
A.
During an excused absence.
B.
During an approved early dismissal from school.
C.
When the student is enrolled in an approved work-experience
program.
D.
When the student is officially removed from the school
register.
E.
Parochial and private school students who have different
school hours or different holiday and vacation schedules, during times
while those schools are not in session.
A.
No parent, as defined in § 157-2 of this chapter, of any child under the age of 18 years shall permit such child to remain in or upon any public place or establishment after the hour of 10:00 p.m. on each and every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 6:00 a.m. of the following morning or after the hour of 11:00 p.m. on each and every Friday or Saturday until 6:00 a.m. of the following morning, unless accompanied by such parent.
B.
No parent, as defined in § 157-2 of this chapter, of any child 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.
A.
No operator, as defined in § 157-2 of this chapter, or his agents or employees shall knowingly permit any child under the age of 18 years to remain upon the premises of his establishment after the hour of 10:00 p.m. each and every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday until 6:00 a.m. of the following morning or after the hour of 11:00 p.m. on each and every Friday or Saturday until 6:00 a.m. of the following morning, unless accompanied by the parent, as defined in § 157-2 of this chapter.
B.
No operator, as defined in § 157-2 of 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.
Any parent or operator, as such terms are defined in § 157-2 of this chapter, who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or community service not exceeding 100 hours, or a combination thereof.
