Perris Municipal Code Ch. 9.52 Truancy of Minors

(a) It is unlawful for any minor under the age of 18 who is subject to compulsory education or to compulsory continuation education to be present in any community place or establishment within the city during truancy hours.

(b) However, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply if any of the following apply:

(1) The minor is accompanied by his parent, legal guardian, or by his spouse 18 years of age or older;

(2) The minor's parent or legal guardian has given the minor's permission to remain in a community place or establishment during truancy hours;

(3) The minor is involved in an emergency;

(4) The minor is attending, going to or returning home without any detour or stop from an official meeting, school activity, civic organization, educational, religious or recreational activity supervised by adults;

(5) The minor is engaged in lawful employment activity or is going to or returning home from a lawful employment activity without any detour or stop;

(6) The minor is in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel;

(7) The minor is exercising his First Amendment rights, such as freedom of speech, right of assembly or free exercise of religion;

(8) The minor is going to or returning from a medical appointment without any detour or stop;

(9) The minor is in possession of a valid proof that the minor is a student who has permission to leave the school campus.

(c) Any minor who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor which may, in the discretion of the enforcing authority, be charged and prosecuted as an infraction.

(Code 1972, § 9.52.010; Ord. No. 1063, § 1(part), 1998; Ord. No. 1267, § 10, 5-11-2010)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Community place means any place to which the residents of the city or a substantial group of them have access and includes, but is not limited to, streets, the common areas, buildings, facilities, parks, docks or beaches.

Emergency means one or more unforeseen circumstances or the resulting state requiring immediate action, such as a fire, natural disaster, accident or situation requiring immediate action to prevent or to treat serious injury or loss to person or property.

Establishment means any privately-owned place of business to which the public is invited, including, but not limited to, places of amusement or entertainment.

Guardian means a person ordered to be such by a court or a public or private agency with whom the minor has been placed.

Minor means any person under 18 years of age.

Parent means a person who is a natural, adoptive or stepparent or someone at least 18 years old authorized by a parent or guardian to have care, custody or control of the minor.

Truancy hours means 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or other hours as designated by the respective school district or school on days when school is in session.

(Code 1972, § 9.52.020; Ord. No. 1063, § 1(part), 1998)

(a) It is unlawful for the parent or guardian knowingly to allow or permit such minor to violate this chapter.

(b) Such violation is an infraction pursuant to the general penalty provision of section 1.16.010.

(Code 1972, § 9.52.030; Ord. No. 1063, §§ 1(part), 2, 1998)