Chapter 9.26
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR JUVENILES

Sections:

9.26.010    Definitions.

9.26.020    General provisions.

9.26.030    Exemptions.

9.26.040    Authority to enforce.

9.26.050    Violation – Penalty.

9.26.010 Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

A. “Child” means any unemancipated person under the age of 18 years.

B. “Parent” means the mother, father, foster mother, foster father, stepmother, stepfather, or both being referred to in the singular as “parent,” guardian or other adult person having the legal care, custody or control of a child. (Ord. C-243 § 2, 1991)

9.26.020 General provisions.

No parent shall allow his or her child to remain in, on, or occupy any area of the public streets, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, any other public grounds, places of amusement, places of entertainment, commercial establishment, or any unsupervised area between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except as allowed under this chapter. (Ord. C-243 § 3, 1991)

9.26.030 Exemptions.

A parent of the following children shall be exempt from the enforcement provisions of this chapter:

A. A child accompanied by his parent;

B. A child engaged in lawful employment;

C. A child on an errand or legitimate business pursuant to instructions from his parents;

D. A child involved in an emergency concerning the person or property of him/herself or another;

E. A child returning home from school- or church-sponsored activities, or from other activities supervised by an adult. The term “returning home” means immediately and directly after participation in such activity, without a broken chain of sequences and time between the end of such event and the time such child returns to his/her residence or such other place as shall be authorized by his/her parent. (Ord. C-243 § 4, 1991)

9.26.040 Authority to enforce.

Law Enforcement Officers of the City shall have authority to reasonably stop and momentarily detain a child to obtain his/her name, age, and address, as well as the name and address of the child’s parent(s) whenever said Law Enforcement Officer shall reasonably suspect that the parent of such child is in violation of this chapter. Upon determining that the parent of such child is in fact in violation of this chapter and not exempt under AHMC 9.26.030, the Law Enforcement Officer shall direct or deliver the child to the residence of his/her parent. (Ord. C-243 § 5, 1991)

9.26.050 Violation – Penalty.

Upon a parent’s first violation, notice thereof shall be given to the parent. Upon a second violation, a summons shall be served on the parent and a hearing shall be held before City Municipal Court at which time the parent shall appear and answer to the charge of violating this chapter. Upon a determination by the judge that a second violation has occurred, a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than $300.00 shall be imposed upon the parent. Upon a third or subsequent violation involving the same child, the parent shall be subject to a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $300.00. (Ord. C-243 § 6, 1991)