(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this ordinance, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
DELINQUENT ACTS. Includes acts which violate the laws of the U.S., or the laws or regulations of this state, or the ordinances of the city, or those acts which would cause or tend to cause a juvenile to come under the jurisdiction of the juvenile division of the Probate Court as defined in M.C.L.A. § 712A.2, but does not include traffic violations classified as civil infractions.
ILLEGAL DRUGS. Any controlled substance, as defined by the State Public Health Code, obtained without a legal prescription.
JUVENILE DELINQUENT. Juveniles who engage in any delinquent act, whose behavior interferes with the rights of others, or whose behavior menaces the health or welfare of the community.
MINOR. Any person under the age of 17 years residing with a parent or guardian.
PARENT. Mother, father, legal guardian, or other person having the care or custody of a minor, or any person acting in the parent’s stead who has the care, custody, or control of the minor.
(B) Parental duties; reasonable control.
(1) It is the duty of the parent of any minor to exercise reasonable control to prevent the minor from committing any delinquent act.
(2) Included (without limitation) in this duty of reasonable parental control to prevent the minor from committing any delinquent act are the following parental duties, which each parent, independently, to take all reasonable steps:
(a) To keep illegal drugs or illegal firearms out of the home;
(b) To keep legal firearms locked in places that are inaccessible to those minors who are not of suitable age, discretion, or maturity to handle firearms;
(c) To know curfew ordinances of the city, and to require the minor to observe the curfew ordinance;
(d) To require the minor to attend regular school sessions and to forbid the minor to be absent from class without parental or school permission;
(e) To arrange proper supervision for those minors who are not of suitable age, discretion, or maturity to remain unsupervised when the parent must be absent;
(f) To take reasonably necessary precautions to prevent the minor from maliciously or willfully destroying real, personal, or mixed property which belongs to the city, or is located in the city;
(g) To take reasonable precautions to prevent the minor from keeping stolen property or illegally possessing firearms or illegal drugs; and
(h) To seek help from appropriate governmental authorities or private agencies in handling or controlling the minor when necessary.
(C) Notification of parents; record.
(1) Whenever a minor is arrested or detained for the commission of any delinquent act within the city, the City Police Department shall take reasonable steps to contact the parent(s) of that minor, advising the parent of the arrest or detention, the reason therefor, and the parent’s responsibility under this ordinance.
(2) A record of that notification shall be kept by the City Police Department.
(D) Violation by parent; liability.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any parent of a minor to fail to exercise reasonable parental control over that minor.
(2) Any parent who has violated this ordinance shall be civilly responsible for all of the damages and costs caused by the commission of any delinquent act by a minor for whom the parent has the care, custody, or control, or caused by any other violation of this ordinance by the parent(s) within the city.