O-2016-3641 Chapter 42 "Miscellaneous Offenses" Revising Juvenile Curfew Regulations

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ORDINANCE NO. 2016-3641 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 42 "MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES" OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY REVISING JUVENILE CURFEW REGULATIONS; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; PROVIDING THAT ANY PERSON VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND UPON CONVICTION SHALL BE FINED IN A SUM NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS; PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE CAPTION HEREOF; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS: Section 1: That Chapter 42, "Miscellaneous Offenses," Article III, "Curfew for Juveniles," of the Code of Ordinances, LaPorte, Texas, is hereby amended to read as follows: "ARTICLE M. - CURFEW FOR JUVENILES Sec. 42-71. - Findings and determinations. (a) The city council has determined that there has been an increase in juvenile violence, juvenile gang activity and an increase in crime by persons under the age of 18 in the city. Persons under the age of 18 are particularly susceptible, because of their lack of maturity and experience, to participate in unlawful and gang -related activities and to be victims of older perpetrators of crime. (b) The city has an obligation to provide for: (1) The protection of minors from each other and from other persons; (2) The establishment of parental control of and responsibility for their children; (3) The protection of the general public; and (4) The reduction of the incidence of juvenile criminal activities. (c) The city council has determined that a curfew for those under 18 years of age will be in the interest of the public health, safety and general welfare, and will help to attain the objectives of this section and will diminish the undesirable impact of such conduct on the citizens of the city. Sec. 42-72. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: