03-23-20 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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(a) 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: Emergency means an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action. The term shall include, but not be limited to, a fire, natural disaster, vehicular accident or a serious medical condition of sudden onset. 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 the person who, under a court order, is the guardian of the person of a minor or the 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, corporation or other legal entity 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 the natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent 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, apartments, houses, office buildings, transport facilities and shops. Remain means: (1) to linger or stay, or (2) to fail to leave a premises when requested to do so by a police officer or the owner, operator or other person in control of the premises. Sec. 42-73. - Prohibited acts; offenses. 2