Chapter 9.15
CURFEW HOURS FOR MINORS
Sections:
9.15.040 Repealed.
9.15.010 Definitions.
In this section:
“Curfew hours” means means the period of time commencing at 10:00 p.m. on each day of the week, including Friday and Saturday, and terminating at 6:00 a.m. of the next following day.
“Emergency” means an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action. The term includes, but is not limited to, a fire, a natural disaster, or automobile accident, or any situation requiring immediate action to prevent serious bodily injury or loss of life.
“Establishment” means any privately owned place of business operated for a profit to which the public is invited, including but not limited to any place of amusement or entertainment.
“Guardian” means:
(a) A person who, under court order, is the guardian of the person or a minor; or
(b) A public or private agency with whom a minor has been placed by a court.
“Minor” means any person under 18 years of age.
“Operator” means any individual, firm, association, partnership, or corporation operating, managing, or conducting any establishment. The term includes the members or partners of an association or partnership and the officers of a corporation.
“Parent” means a person who is:
(a) A natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent of another person;
(b) At least 18 years of age and authorized by a parent or guardian to have the care and custody of a minor.
“Public place” means any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access and includes, but is not limited to, streets, highways, and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities, and shops.
“Remain” means to:
(a) Linger or stay; or
(b) Fail to leave premises when requested to do so by a police officer or the owner, operator, or other person in control of the premises.
“Serious bodily injury” means that as defined within California Penal Code Section 243(f)(5). [Ord. 721-16 § 1, 2-9-16; Ord. 650-96, 6-11-96; Ord. 645-95, 7-11-95. Prior code § 11-200].
9.15.020 Offenses.
(1) A minor commits an offense if he or she remains in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours.
(2) A parent or guardian of a minor commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, or by insufficient control allows, the minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours.
(3) The owner, operator, or any employee of an establishment commits an offense if he or she knowingly allows a minor to remain on the premises of the establishment during curfew hours. [Ord. 645-95, 7-11-95. Prior code § 11-201].
9.15.030 Defenses.
(1) It is a defense to prosecution under WMC 9.15.020 that the minor was:
(a) Accompanied by the minor’s parent or guardian;
(b) On an errand at the direction of the minor’s parent or guardian, without any detour or stop;
(c) In a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel;
(d) Engaged in an employment activity, or going to or returning from an employment activity, without any detour or stop;
(e) Involved in an emergency;
(f) On the sidewalk abutting the minor’s residence or abutting the residence of a next-door neighbor if the neighbor did not complain to the police department about the minor’s presence;
(g) Attending an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by any governmental agency in the city of Willows, a civic organization or other similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor, or going or returning home from, without any detour or stop, an official school, religious, or other recreation activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the city of Willows, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor;
(h) Exercising First Amendment rights protected by the United States Constitution, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, and the right of assembly; or
(i) Married or had been married or had disabilities of minority removed in accordance with Part 6 of Division 11 of the California Family Code, commencing with Section 7000.
(2) It is a defense to prosecution under WMC 9.15.020(3), that the owner, operator, or employee of an establishment promptly notified the police department that a minor was present on the premises of the establishment during curfew hours and refused to leave. [Ord. 645-95, 7-11-95. Prior code § 11-202].
9.15.040 Enforcement.
Repealed by Ord. 721-16. [Ord. 645-95, 7-11-95. Prior code § 11-203].
9.15.050 Penalties.
A person who violates a provision of this chapter is guilty of a separate offense for each day or part of a day during which the violation is committed, continued, or permitted. Each offense, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not to exceed $500.00. [Ord. 645-95, 7-11-95. Prior code § 11-204].