Rohnert Park Municipal Code Ch. 9.76 Curfew

A. "Aimlessly remain" means to stay at a specific location for no discernable or visible purpose.

B. "Idle" means to stay in one area for an extended period of time while performing no productive or beneficial activity.

C. "Loiter" means to linger for an extended period without performing any worthwhile activity.

D. "Wander" means to walk around an area or location without any specific purpose or objective in mind.

E. "Emergency" means an unforeseen event or combination of events that requires immediate action.

F. "Guardian" means the natural or adoptive parent of the minor child.

G. "Parent" means the natural or adoptive parent of the minor child.

(Ord. 635 § 2, 1997)

It is unlawful for any minor under the age of eighteen years to loiter, idle, wander or to aimlessly remain, without any visible purpose, reason or explanation for such conduct, upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places, and public buildings, places of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots or unsupervised places between the hours of eleven p.m. and six a.m. and between the hours of eight-thirty a.m. and three-thirty p.m. on days when school is in session.

(Ord. 635 § 1, 1997: Ord. 620 § 1, 1996: Ord. 272 § 1, 1975: Ord. 33 § 1, 1963)

(Ord. No. 988, § 4, 7-22-2025)

It is unlawful for any minor under the age of eighteen years, who is subject to compulsory full time education or subject to compulsory continuation education to loiter, idle, wander or to aimlessly remain without any visible purpose, reason or explanation for such conduct, upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, or other public grounds, public places and public buildings, places of amusement or entertainment, vacant lots between the hours of eight-thirty a.m. and three-thirty p.m. on days when school is in session.

(Ord. 635 § 1, 1997: Ord. 620 § 2, 1996)

(Ord. No. 988, § 4, 7-22-2025)

Application and enforcement of Sections 9.76.020 and 9.76.030 shall not apply in the following circumstances:

A. If the minor is accompanied by his or her parents or guardian or by a responsible adult for a specific purpose.

B. If the minor is on an emergency errand on behalf of his or her parents or guardian, or on behalf of a responsible adult for a specific purpose, or on behalf of school authorities for a school-related purpose and the errand involves no detour or stops along the way.

C. The minor is in a motor vehicle or other transportation which is in interstate travel.

D. The minor is on the sidewalk outside the place where the minor resides.

E. The minor is attending an official school-sponsored social or other gathering or is attending a religious, cultural or recreational event, or an activity sponsored by the city of Rohnert Park and supervised by city employees or by responsible adults.

F. The minor is engaged in a peaceful and reasonable legitimate exercise of First Amendment rights protected by the United States Constitution.

G. The minor is emancipated.

Before taking action under Sections 9.76.020 or 9.76.030 the police officer shall inquire of the minor as to his or her age and reason for being out in public contrary to the above-referenced section(s). No citation shall issue if the officer is reasonably satisfied that the minor is outside after curfew for one of the reasons or excuses above listed. If the officer is not reasonably satisfied that such is the case, then a citation shall issue.

(Ord. 635 § 3, 1997: Ord. 620 § 3, 1996)

It is unlawful for the parent or guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of a minor child under the age of eighteen years, to knowingly permit such a minor to loiter, idle, wander or aimlessly remain without any visible purpose, reason or explanation for such conduct, upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places, and public buildings, places of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots or unsupervised places between the hours of eleven p.m. and six a.m. and between the hours of eight-thirty a.m. and three-thirty p.m. on days when school is in session.

(Ord. 635 § 1, 1997: Ord. 620 § 4, 1996: Ord. 272 § 2, 1975: Ord. 33 § 2, 1963)

(Ord. No. 988, § 4, 7-22-2025)

Each violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense and shall be prosecutable as such.

(Ord. 635 § 4, 1997)

A minor violating the provisions of Sections 9.76.020 or 9.76.030 shall be dealt with in accordance with juvenile court law and procedure. Any parent, guardian, or other adult person having the care and custody of a minor and who has knowledge that such minor child is violating Section 9.76.020 or 9.76.030 shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or confined in jail not more than sixty days or punished by both said fine and imprisonment for each offense.

(Ord. 635 § 1, 1997: Ord. 620 § 5, 1996: Ord. 33 § 3, 1963)