[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the City of Ventnor City 4-28-1975 by Ord. No. 7508. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The exercise of control over a minor child, knowing his or
her whereabouts, knowing with whom he or she associates and in what
activities he or she may engage which could affect or offend the public
peace, safety and morals.
Offenses against the public peace, safety and
morals are hereby defined to include:
A.
A felony, high misdemeanor, misdemeanor or other offense.
B.
The violation of any penal law or municipal ordinance.
C.
Any act or offense for which one could be prosecuted
in the method partaking of the nature of a criminal action or proceeding.
D.
Being a disorderly person, or one of the following
acts:
(1)
Habitual vagrancy.
(2)
Incorrigibility.
(3)
Immorality.
(4)
Knowingly visiting gambling places or patronizing
other places or establishments, admission to which constitutes a violation
of the law.
(5)
Idly roaming the streets at night.
(6)
Habitual truancy from school.
(7)
Deportment endangering the morals, health or general
welfare of a child.
(8)
Any and all violations of state statutes under Title
39 of the Motor Vehicle Act in the operation and use of a motor vehicle,
but not including violations for parking.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any parent, legal guardian
or other person having the care or custody of a minor child under
18 years of age, by any act or word or by the failure to act or by
the lack of supervision and control over said minor child, to encourage,
contribute toward, cause or tend to cause said child to become delinquent
by reason of the activity of said minor child within the City of Ventnor
City.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any parent, legal guardian
or other person having custody and care of any minor child under the
age of 18 to assist, aid, abet, allow, permit or encourage said minor
to violate the provisions of this chapter or any other ordinance of
the City of Ventnor City as defined herein, either by overt act, by
failing to act or by lack of supervision and control over said minor
child.
[Amended 6-4-1979 by Ord. No. 7904]
The fact that a child under the age of 18 years
is apprehended while on any public streets, roads, alleys, parks,
playgrounds, public places, public buildings, places of amusement
and entertainment, places of business carried on for profit to which
the public is invited, vacant lots or other public places during the
hours of curfew shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this
chapter on the part of the parents, legal guardian or other person
having custody or care of said minor.
When any person under the age of 18 has been
apprehended in violation of this chapter or any laws of the state
as outlined in this chapter and has been brought before the Judge
of the Division of the Atlantic County Juvenile and Domestic Relations
Court and upon the determination that the child is guilty of the offense
within the purview of this chapter, then the parent, legal guardian
or other person having care and custody of said minor may be summoned
before a Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Ventnor and ordered
to provide supervision of the minor. The failure of said parent, legal
guardian or other person having legal custody of said minor child,
under a second offense, shall cause the parent, legal guardian or
other person having custody of said minor child to be subject to the
penalties provided for herein.
[Amended 2-2-1989 by Ord. No. 8903; 1-9-1997 by Ord. No. 9616]
Any person who violates any provision of this
chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not
exceeding $1,000 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days,
or both. In addition to or as a substitute for the previously mentioned
fine, the imposition of community service shall be authorized as an
additional penalty, which community service shall not exceed 90 days.
