A. Prohibited: It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen (18) enrolled in a public, private, or parochial school, to absent himself from attendance at school without permission from a parent or legal guardian. Any person who shall so absent himself shall be guilty of the offense of truancy and be subject to the penalties set forth in this code. Emergency or unforeseen absences due to illness or other causes beyond the control of the person so absenting himself from school without permission from a parent or legal guardian shall not constitute truancy if permission for such absence has substantially been obtained from the parent or legal guardian and such permission is submitted in writing to the proper school authorities within twenty four (24) hours after such absence.
B. Obligation Of Parents Or Legal Guardians: It is hereby made unlawful for any parent, legal guardian or other person having the legal care and custody of any person under eighteen (18) years of age, to allow or permit any such child, ward or other person under such age enrolled in a public, private or parochial school, to absent himself from attendance at school without permission from said parent or legal guardian.
C. Penalties:
1. If a person between the age of ten (10) years and under the age of eighteen (18) years is convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of violating this section, such offense shall be punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense and/or community service, and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a second or any subsequent offense and/or community service.
2. If a person under ten (10) years of age, or the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a person under ten (10) years of age, is convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of violating this section, the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of such person shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense and/or community service, and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a second or any subsequent offense and/or community service. (Ord. 2007-02-01, 2-14-2007)