(A) Purpose. The curfew for minors established by this section is maintained for four primary reasons:
(1) To protect the public from illegal acts of minors committed during the curfew hours;
(2) To protect minors from improper influences that prevail during the curfew hours, including involvement with gangs;
(3) To protect minors from criminal activity that occurs during the curfew hours; and
(4) To help parents control their minor children.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
EMERGENCY ERRAND. A task that if not completed promptly threatens the health, safety or comfort of the minor or a member of the minor’s household. The term shall include, but shall not be limited to, seeking urgent medical treatment, seeking urgent assistance from law enforcement or Fire Department personnel and seeking shelter from the elements or urgent assistance from a utility company due to a natural or human-made calamity.
OFFICIAL CITY TIME. The time of day as determined by reference to the master clock used by the Police Department.
PLACES OF AMUSEMENT, ENTERTAINMENT OR REFRESHMENT. Places that include, but are not limited to, movie theaters, pinball arcades, shopping malls, nightclubs catering to minors, restaurants and pool halls.
PRIMARY CARE or PRIMARY CUSTODY. The person who is responsible for providing food, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities to the minor. The person providing PRIMARY CARE or CUSTODY to the minor shall not be another minor.
SCHOOL ACTIVITY. An event which has been placed on a school calendar by public or parochial school authorities as a school sanctioned event.
(C) Hours.
(1) Minors under the age of 16 years. No minor under the age of 16 years shall be in or upon the public streets, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places, public buildings; nor in or upon places of amusement, entertainment or refreshment; nor in or upon any vacant lot, between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following day, official city time.
(2) Minors ages 16 years to 18 years. No minor of the ages of 16 or 17 years shall be in or upon the public streets, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places, public buildings; nor in or upon places of amusement, entertainment or refreshment; nor in or upon any vacant lot, between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. the following day, official city time.
(D) Effect on control by adult responsible for minor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to give a minor the right to stay out until the curfew hours designated in this section if otherwise directed by a parent, guardian or other adult person having the primary care and custody of the minor; nor shall this section be construed to diminish or impair the control of the adult person having the primary care or custody of the minor.
(E) Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply in the following situations:
(1) To a minor accompanied by his or her parent or guardian, or other adult person having the primary care and custody of the minor;
(2) To a minor who is upon an emergency errand at the direction of his or her parent, guardian or other adult person having the primary care and custody of the minor;
(3) To a minor who is in any of the places described in this section if in connection with or as required by an employer engaged in a lawful business, trade, profession or occupation; or to a minor traveling directly to or from the location of the business trade, profession or occupation and the minor’s residence. Minors who fall within the scope of this exception shall carry written proof of employment and proof of the hours the employer requires the minor’s presence at work;
(4) To a minor who is participating in or traveling directly to or from an event which has been officially designated as a school activity by public or parochial school authorities; or who is participating in or traveling directly to or from an official activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the city, a civic organization, school, religious institution or similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor and with the permission of the minor’s parent, guardian or other adult person having the primary care and custody of the minor;
(5) To a minor who is passing through the city in the course of interstate travel during the hours of curfew;
(6) To a minor who is attending or traveling directly to or from an activity involving the exercise of First Amendment rights of free speech, freedom of assembly or freedom of religion;
(7) To a minor on the sidewalk abutting his or her residence or abutting the residence of a next-door neighbor if the neighbor does not complain to the city’s designated law enforcement provider about the minor’s presence; or
(8) To a minor who is married or has been married, or is otherwise legally emancipated.
(F) Duties of person legally responsible for minor. No parent, guardian or other adult having the primary care or custody of any minor shall permit any violation of the requirements of this section by the minor.
(G) Duties of other persons. No person operating or in charge of any place of amusement, entertainment or refreshment shall permit any minor to enter or remain in his or her place of business during the hours prohibited by this section unless the minor is accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or other adult person having primary care or custody of the minor, or unless one of the exceptions to this section apply.
(H) Defense. It shall be a defense to prosecution under this section that the owner, operator or employee of an establishment promptly notified the city’s designated law enforcement provider that a minor was present on the premises of the establishment during curfew hours and refused to leave.
(2004 Code, § 131.01) Penalty, see § 131.99