[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Mansfield 1-23-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-2;[1] amended in its entirety 8-27-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-23. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 32.
Parental responsibility — See Ch. 34.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 34A.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed
former Ch. 28, Loitering, adopted 8-6-1979 by Ord. No. 1979-7, as
amended.
A.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms,
phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated
herein unless their use in the text of this chapter clearly demonstrates
a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words
used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural
number include the singular number, and words used in the singular
number include the plural number, the word "shall" is always mandatory
and not merely directory.
B.
EMERGENCY
JUVENILE or MINOR
PARENT
PUBLIC PLACE
REMAIN
TOWNSHIP
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
An unforeseen combination of circumstances, or the resulting
state, that calls for immediate action. The term includes, but is
not limited to, a fire, natural disaster or automobile accident or
any situation requiring immediate action to prevent serious bodily
injury or loss of life.
Any unemancipated person under the age of 18.
Any person having legal custody of a juvenile as a natural
or adoptive parent, as a legal guardian, or as a person to whom legal
custody has been given by court order.
Any and all places in which members of the public are admitted
or may freely traverse; and the proscriptions set forth herein shall
be deemed to apply, without limitation, to any street, sidewalk, corner
or intersection, park or other public place, any public gathering
or assembly or in front of, in or around any store, shop or business
or commercial establishment, common areas of schools, shopping centers,
parking lots, playgrounds, transportation facilities, theaters, restaurants,
shops, bowling alleys, cafes, arcades, and similar areas that are
open to the use of the public or upon any private property or place.
To stay behind, to tarry and to stay unnecessarily in a public
place in which any juvenile involved would not be using the streets
for ordinary or serious purposes, such as mere passage or going home,
or to fail to leave the premises of an establishment when requested
to do so by a police officer or the operator of an establishment.
To implement this provision with additional precision and precaution,
numerous exceptions are expressly defined in this chapter.
The Township of Mansfield, County of Burlington, New Jersey.
It shall be unlawful for any person under 18
years of age to be or remain in or upon a public place within the
Township of Mansfield during the period ending at 6:00 a.m. and beginning:
The following shall constitute valid exceptions
to the operation of this chapter:
A.
When a juvenile is accompanied by a parent of such
juvenile or by an adult authorized by a parent of such juvenile to
take said parent's place in accompanying said juvenile for a designated
period of time and purpose within a specified area.
B.
When the juvenile is on an errand involving a medical
emergency as directed by a parent of such juvenile.
C.
When a juvenile 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, by carrying
upon his or her person a writing signed by the juvenile and countersigned
by a parent of the juvenile with their home address and telephone
number, specifying when, where and in what manner the juvenile will
be in a public place during hours when this chapter is applicable
to said minor in the exercise of the First Amendment right specified
in such writing.
D.
When a juvenile is on the sidewalk or property where
the juvenile resides or on either side of or across the street from
the place where the juvenile resides and the adult owner or resident
of that property has given permission for the juvenile to be there.
E.
When a juvenile is returning home by a direct route
(without any unnecessary detour or stop) from and within one hour
of the termination of a school activity or an activity of a cultural,
educational or social event sponsored by a religious or community-based
organization.
F.
When the juvenile is legally employed and is traveling
to or returning home from, by a direct route, the juvenile's place
of employment.
G.
When the juvenile is, with parental consent, engaged
in normal interstate travel through the Township or originating or
terminating in the Township.
It shall be unlawful for a parent having legal
custody of a juvenile knowingly to permit or by inefficient control
to allow the juvenile to remain in any Township public place under
circumstances not constituting an exception to or otherwise beyond
the scope of this chapter. The term "knowingly" includes knowledge
that a parent should reasonably be expected to have concerning the
whereabouts of a juvenile in that parent's legal custody. This requirement
is intended to hold a neglectful or careless parent up to a reasonable
community standard of parental responsibility through an objective
test. It shall, therefore, be no defense that a parent was completely
indifferent to the activities or conduct or whereabouts of such juvenile.
A.
If a police officer reasonably believes that a juvenile
is on the streets or public place in violation of this chapter, the
officer shall notify the juvenile that (s)he is in violation of these
provisions and shall require the juvenile to provide his/her name,
address and telephone number and information on how to contact his/her
parents or guardians. The juvenile shall then be taken to police headquarters,
where a parent or guardian shall immediately be notified to come for
the juvenile. A complete record of the circumstances under which the
juvenile was first seen or discovered in the apparent violation of
this chapter shall be made. Such record shall include the name and
address of the juvenile, the names and addresses of all persons who
have any legal or moral obligation for the juvenile's well-being and
the nature of such obligation, as, for example, parent, guardian or
custodian.
B.
When a parent or guardian has come to take charge
of the juvenile and the appropriate information has been recorded,
the juvenile shall then be released to the custody of such parent.
C.
If the parent cannot be located or fails to take charge
of the juvenile, then the juvenile shall be released in accordance
with police regulations which provide that the juvenile may temporarily
be entrusted to an adult relative, neighbor or other person who will,
on behalf of a parent or guardian, assume the responsibility of caring
for the juvenile pending the availability or arrival of a parent or
guardian.
A.
In the case of a first violation by a juvenile, the Director of Public Safety shall cause a written notice of the violation, with a warning that any subsequent violation will result in full enforcement of this chapter, including enforcement of parental responsibility and of applicable penalties, to be served upon the juvenile's parent or legal guardian, either by personal service or by certified mail. If, after the warning notice of a first violation by the juvenile, a parent violates § 28-4 in connection with a second violation by the juvenile, this shall be treated as a first offense by the parent.
B.
Any juvenile who violates any provision of this chapter
a second time shall be issued a summons for violation of the requisite
chapter and shall be required to appear before a court of competent
jurisdiction to answer the allegation. Any juvenile who violates any
provision of this chapter a third or subsequent time shall be cited
as set forth in the previous sentence and, in addition, the juvenile's
parent or guardian shall also be issued a summons for the same violation
and be required to appear before a court of competent jurisdiction
to answer the allegation.
C.
Any person who violates this chapter shall, upon conviction
thereof in a proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction,
be required to perform community service and may be subject to a fine
of up to $200. If both a juvenile and the juvenile's parent or guardian
violates this chapter, they shall be required to perform community
service together.
This chapter shall take effect upon its final
passage and publication, according to law.
