Costa Mesa Municipal Code § 11-51 Definitions

The following definitions are applicable to this chapter:

Curfew hours

means the period from 10:00 p.m. any night until 6:00 a.m. the following morning.

Emergency

means unforeseen circumstances or a situation that calls for immediate action. The term includes, but is not limited to, an automobile accident, fire or explosion, natural disaster or any condition requiring immediate action to prevent bodily injury or loss of life.

Establishment

means any privately-owned place of business operated for 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 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.

Parent

means a person who is a natural parent, adoptive parent or step-parent of a minor.

Responsible adult

means a person 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 the public or a substantial group of the public has access and includes, but is not limited to, streets, highways, common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities and shops.

Remain

means to (a) linger, stay or be present; or (b) fail to leave the premises when requested to do so by a peace officer, the owner, operator or other person in control of the premises.

(Ord. No. 98-12, § 2, 5-4-98)

It is unlawful for:

(a) Any minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours, or

(b) Any parent or guardian of a minor to knowingly permit, or by insufficient control, allow the minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours, or

(c) Any owner, operator or employee of an establishment to knowingly permit a minor to remain in or upon the premises of any establishment during curfew hours.

(Ord. No. 98-12, § 2, 5-4-98)