2301 t t
ORDINANCE NO.vt W I
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 6.38 OF THE WEST
MEMPHIS MUNICIPAL CODE,TO REVISE THE JUVENILE
CURFEW,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS,the West Memphis Police Department and the Police Commission have
recommended that the juvenile curfew laws in effect in the City of West Memphis, as set out n
Chapter 6.38 of the West Memphis Municipal Code,be revised; and
WHEREAS, City Council finds that the recommendations of the West Memphis Police
Department and the Police Commission are appropriate and should be enacted;
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF HE CITY
OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. Section 6.38.010 of the West Memphis Municipal Code is hereby amended
to read as follows:
Findings and purpose: The city council for the city, finds that special circumstances exist
within the city that call for special regulation of minors within the city in order to protect
them from each other and from other persons on the street during the nocturnal hours, to
aid in crime prevention, to promote parental supervision and authority over minors, and
to decrease nocturnal crime rates.
SECTION 2. Section 6.38.020 of the West Memphis Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Definitions: For purposes of this curfew ordinance, the following terms, phrases, words,
and their derivations shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section:
(1) City is the City of West Memphis, Arkansas.
(2) Emancipated minor means a minor who no longer has a parent-child relationship
as a result of marriage, or as a result of being recognized as an adult by order of a
court of competent jurisdiction.
(3) Legitimate parentally approved errand means a minor performing a necessary
task at the direction of the minor's parent, and the nonperformance of the errand,
or delay of performance until after curfew hours have abated, would result in
injury or undue hardship.
(4) Minor is any unemancipated or unmarried person under the age of 18 years of
age.
(5) Parent is any person having legal custody of a minor(i) as a natural parent, (ii) as
an adoptive parent, (iii) as a legal guardian, (iv) as a person to whom legal
custody has been given by order of the court.
(6) Public places means a publicly or privately owned place to which the public or
substantial numbers of people have access. A public place does not include the
residence of a minor, or the residence of a minor's parent, or a responsible adult.
(7) Responsible adult means a person at least 21 years of age to whom a parent has
expressly given permission to accompany a minor.
SECTION 3. Section 6.38.030 of the West Memphis Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Curfew for minors:
(1) It shall be unlawful for any minor to be upon the streets, sidewalks, parks,
playgrounds,public places and vacant lots, or to ride in or upon, drive or
otherwise operate or be a passenger in any automobile, bicycle, or other vehicle
in, upon, over or through the streets, or other public places between the following
hours:
a. On Sunday through Thursday evenings from 10:00 p.m. through 5:00 a.m.
the following day (seven hours);
b. On Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 12:00 a.m. through 5:00
a.m. the following day(five hours).
(2) It shall be unlawful for any parent to permit a minor to be upon the streets,
sidewalks,parks, playgrounds,public places and vacant lots, or to ride in or upon,
drive or otherwise operate, a vehicle in, upon, over or through the streets, or other
public places in violation of subsection (1) above. The fact that a minor is in
violation of the provisions of subsection (1)hereinabove, without a defense as set
forth in_Section 3.68.040, as amended, shall create a rebuttable presumption that a
parent is in violation of this subsection.
SECTION 4. Section 6.38.040 of the West Memphis Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Exceptions to curfew:
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.38.030, the minor curfew ordinance
does not apply:
a. At any time a minor is accompanied by a parent, or by a responsible adult
authorized by a parent to take the parent's place to accompany the minor
for a designated period of time and purpose within a specified area.
b. If the minor is employed, for a period of time 45 minutes after work,
provided that circumstances suggest the minor is returning from work to a
place of residence.
c. When a minor is returning home from an activity that is supervised by
adults and sponsored by the city, a civic organization, a public or private
school, or any entity that takes responsibility for the minor,provided that
the activity has not concluded for more than 45 minutes.
d. At any time the minor is on a legitimate parentally approved errand.
e. At any time the minor is on a trip in interstate commerce.
f. At any time the minor is required to leave a residence because of an
emergency.
g. At any time the minor is engaged in an activity that is protected by the
First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or the freedom of
speech, religion or expression provisions in Article II of the Arkansas
Constitution.
(2) If a minor being questioned about the possible violation of the curfew ordinance
provides a law enforcement officer with sufficient reason to believe that the minor
is entitled to an exemption under Section 3.68.040(1), the law enforcement officer
shall take no enforcement action under this article, provided the officer shall make
a report of the minor's identity, the exemption claimed, and other necessary
information to note the possible violation of this chapter.
SECTION 5. Section 6.38.050 of the West Memphis Municipal Code is hereby
repealed.
SECTION 6. Section 6.38.060 of the West Memphis Municipal Code is hereby
repealed.
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SECTION 7. Section 6.38.070 of the West Memphis Municipa Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Penalties and law enforcernent,'
(1) A parent or minor found to be in violation of this article shall be guilty of a
violation and upon conviction of a third violation and any subsequent violations
shall be subject to a fine in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars
($200.00) for each offense.
(2) At the discretion of the law enforcement officer with verbal approval from a
supervisor, any minor receiving a citation for violation of the minor curfew
ordinance may be released to immediately return home, may be escorted to their
home, or may be taken into custody and delivered to an appropriate juvenile
authority to be held until a parent can be located to take custody of the minor.
(3) Nothing in this section shall preclude a law enforcement officer from taking any
or all appropriate actions for a minor's violation of any other local or state law.
SECTION 8, Section 0.38.080 of the West Memphis Municipal Code is hereby
repealed.
SECTION 9. The provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared to be severable and
if any provision shall for any reason be held illegal or invalid, such holding shall not affect the
validity of the remainder of the Ordinance.
SECTION 10. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed to the extent of any such conflict.
PASSED AND APPROVED this SAN day ��\ 2Rl2
�`,` ^ ~=`�� . 2012.
WILLIAM H. JOHNS , MAYOR
ATTEST:
—
, CITY CLERK
SPONSORED BY:
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SPONSORED BY:
RECEIVED
City Clerk's Office
Date/Time oo(a-5/ ",.00
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