SENATE, No. 1345

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JUNE 20, 1996

By Senator BRYANT

An Act concerning the adoption of curfew ordinances for juveniles by municipalities and amending P.L.1992, c.132.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 2 of P.L.1992, c.132 (C.40:48-2.52) is amended to read as follows:

    2. a. As used in this act:

    (1)  "Juvenile" means an individual who is under the age of 18 years.

    (2)  "Guardian" means a person, other than a parent, to whom legal custody of the juvenile has been given by court order or who is acting in the place of the parent or is responsible for the care and welfare of the juvenile.

    (3)  "Public place" means any place to which the public has access, including but not limited to a public street, road, thoroughfare, sidewalk, bridge, alley, plaza, park, recreation or shopping area, public transportation facility, vehicle used for public transportation, parking lot or any other public building, structure or area.

    b.    (1) A municipality is hereby authorized and empowered to enact an ordinance making it unlawful for a juvenile of any age under 18 years within the discretion of the municipality to be on any public street or in a public place between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by the juvenile's parent or guardian or unless engaged in, or traveling to or from, a business or occupation which the laws of this State authorize a juvenile to perform. Such an ordinance may also make it unlawful for any parent or guardian to allow an unaccompanied juvenile to be on any public street or in any public place during those hours.

    (2) A municipality is hereby authorized and empowered to enact an ordinance making it unlawful for a juvenile of any age under 18 years within the discretion of the municipality to be on any public street or in any public place during the hours when the juvenile is required to be in attendance at either a public or non-public school.

    c.    An ordinance enacted pursuant to this act shall provide that violators shall be required to perform community service and may be subject to a fine of up to $1,000.00. If both a juvenile and the juvenile's parent or guardian violate such an ordinance, they shall be required to perform community service together.

    d.    An ordinance enacted pursuant to this act shall include exceptions permitting juveniles to engage in errands involving medical emergencies and to attend extracurricular school activities, and other cultural, educational and social events, sponsored by religious or community-based organizations [after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m] during curfew hours.

    e.    An ordinance enacted pursuant to this act shall establish clear standards in precise language adequate to apprise a juvenile and a parent or guardian of that which is unlawful and adequate to circumscribe the discretion of police officers in order to overcome subjective and discriminatory enforcement.

(cf: P.L.1995, c.388)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill would authorize a municipality to enact an ordinance making it unlawful for a juvenile of any age under 18 years to be on any public street or in any public place during the hours when the juvenile is required to be in attendance at either a public or non-public school.

Permits municipalities to adopt school-time curfew ordinances for juveniles.