A. School Curfew Established: It shall be unlawful for any person between the ages of seven (7) and sixteen (16) years, or any person who is under the age of seven (7) or who is seventeen (17) years old and who is enrolled in any public, private or parochial school, to be present at, in or upon, within the corporate limits of the City, any place other than school, during any time when school is in session during the regular school term, unless that person is:
1. Engaged in school related activities with prior approval of school authorities or as otherwise authorized by written school policy; or
2. Engaged in personal business, including, but not limited to, employment, medical care or religious activities, with prior notice thereof from a parent or legal guardian to school authorities.
B. Investigatory Detention: Any police officer may stop and detain a person whom the police officer reasonably suspects to be violating this section for the purposes of verifying the detained person's identity, age, school enrollment and authority to be absent from school. The police officer shall immediately inform the detained person of the reason for the detention and that the detained person will be released on verification of authorization to be absent from school. If the detained person refuses to provide the police officer with the necessary information, or if authorization to be absent from school cannot be verified within fifteen (15) minutes after the detention, then the detained person shall be taken to school authorities, if practicable, or to a parent, legal guardian or other responsible person having lawful custody or supervision of such person.
C. First And Subsequent Violations: Any person who violates this section shall be warned by the police officer to comply forthwith with the provisions of this section. Such police officer shall cause written notice to be served on the parent, legal guardian or other adult having lawful custody or supervision of such person, setting forth the manner in which this section has been violated. If any person, after receiving such a warning, shall again violate any of the provisions of this section, then that person shall be subject to the penalty provided in this Code.
D. Parental Responsibility: It shall be unlawful for any parent, legal guardian or other responsible companion to knowingly permit a person in his or her custody or control to violate subsection A of this section. (Ord. 2192, 2-7-2005)
E. Penalty: Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine as provided in section 1-4-1 of this Code. (Ord. O2017-75, 12-4-2017)