(a) Short Title. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Parental Responsibility Ordinance.”
(b) Statement of Purpose. The purpose of this section is to require a parent of a minor child to exercise reasonable control over that child to prevent the child from committing any delinquent act.
(1) Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meaning:
A. “Delinquent act” means an act which violates the laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Illinois, or an ordinance of the City of Christopher.
B. “Minor” means any un-emancipated person under the age of 17.
C. “Parent” means the mother, father, legal guardian and any other person having the care or custody of a minor, or any person 17 years of age or older with whom the minor resides, at the time that the delinquent act is alleged to have been committed by the minor.
(2) Parental Duties.
A. It is the continuous duty of the parent of any minor to exercise reasonable control to prevent the minor from committing any delinquent act.
B. No parent of any minor shall fail to exercise reasonable control over the minor. The exercise of reasonable control shall include, but is not limited to the following:
1. Keeping controlled substances out of the possession of the minor, except those drugs duly prescribed by a licensed physician or other authorized medical professional.
2. Keeping firearms out of the possession of the minor, except those used for hunting in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and with the knowledge and supervision of a parent or responsible adult.
3. Requiring the minor to observe the curfew ordinance of the State of Illinois.
4. Requiring the minor to attend regular school sessions and forbidding the minor to be absent from class without parental or school permission.
5. Arranging proper supervision for the minor when the parent is absent.
6. Forbidding the minor from willfully or maliciously destroying property belonging to another person.
7. Forbidding the minor from knowingly possessing stolen property.
8. Forbidding the minor from using or possessing alcoholic beverages.
9. Seeking help from the appropriate governmental authorities or private agencies in handling or controlling the minor, when necessary.
(3) Penalties.
A. A violation of this section is a civil infraction.
B. Upon the first conviction of a violation of this section, the parent shall be subject to a fine of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00), plus the costs of prosecution.
C. Upon the second conviction of a violation of this section, the parent shall be subject to a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), plus the costs of prosecution.
D. Upon the third or subsequent conviction of a violation of this section, the parent shall be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00), plus the costs of prosecution.
E. The parent or parents shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be held civilly responsible for any damages caused by the violation of this section within the City of Christopher.
(c) Notification of Parents; Record of Notification. Whenever a minor is arrested or detained for the commission of any delinquent act within the City of Christopher, the Christopher Police Department shall immediately attempt to notify the parent of such arrest or detention, the reason for the arrest or detention, and the parent’s responsibility under this section. A record of such notification efforts shall be kept by the Christopher Police Department.
(d) Severability. If any section, subsection, clause, phrase or portion of this section is, for any reason, held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent portion of this section, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this section.
(Ord. 877. Passed 10-14-09.)