Ord 1731 7/14/1955 ORDINANCE NO. 1731
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE PRESENCE OF MINORS
UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY. (20) . YEARS ON PUBLIC STREETS
AND OTHER PLACES BETWEEN CERTAIN HOURS; DEFINING DUTIES
OF PARENTS OR OTHERS IN CARE, OF MINORS; PROVIDING FOR
ARREST AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF; REPEALING
ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT THEREWITH; AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, an emergency exists by reason of a large number
of airmen being stationed near the City of Wichita Falls, in
Wichita County, Texas, which has overtaxed the. law enforcement
agencies of the City of Wichita Falls, because of influxes of
population, over-crowded living conditions, the presence of
numerous strangers and transients, transportation inadequacies
and irregularities, special efforts required to prevent vices;
over-crowded public places, and the like; and
WHEREAS, due to these emergency conditions now prevail-
ing, juvenile criminal delinquency now in the City of Wichita-. Falls
has so increased as to become a menace to the preservation of
public peace, safety, health, morals and welfare;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS:
Section 1 . Loitering of Minor Prohbited . It shall be
unlawful for any minor under the age of twenty 20 years to
loiter, idle, wander, stroll, or play in or upon the public
streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, or other
public grounds, places and public buildings, places of amuse-
ment and entertainment, vacant lots, or other unsupervised
places, between the hours of 11: 00 p .m. , and 4: 00 a.m. , of the
following day, Central Standard Time; provided, however, that the
provisions of this Section does not apply to a minor accompanied
by his or her parent, guardian, or an adult person having the
care- and custody of the minor or where the minor is upon an
emergency errand or legitimate business directed by his or her
parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and cus-
tody of the minor. Provided further that between the hour of
12: 00 P .M. on Saturday and 4: 00 A.M. , on Sunday are the prohibited
hours .
Each violation of this Section shall consti-
tute a separate offense .
Section 2 . Responsibility of Parents . It shall be un-
lawful for the parent, guardian, or other adult person having the
care and custody of a minor, under the age of twenty (20) years,
to knowingly permit such minor to loiter, idle, wander, stroll ,
or play in or 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 other unsupervised places, between the hours of 11i00 P .M. ,
and 4: 00 A.M. , of the following day, Central Standard Time; provided,
however, that the provisions of this Section do not apply when
the minor is accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or other
adult person having the care and custody of the minor, or where
the minor is upon an emergency errand or legitimate business di-
rected by his or her parent, guardian or other adult person,having
care and custody of the minor , provided further that between the
hour of 12: 00 P .M. , on Saturday and 4: 00 A.M. , on Sunday are the
prohibited hours .
Each violation of the provisions of this
Section shall constitute a separate offense .
_ 1 _
SECTION 3 . Penalties . Any minor violating the provisions
of Section l hereof spa =e dealt with in acoordance with Juvenile
Law and Procedure, and if of the age of seventeen ( 17) years or over
shall be subject to a fine of not less than five nor more than two
hundred dollars . Any parent, guardian, or other Ault person having
the care and custody of a minor violating Section 2 hereof, shall
be fined not less than five, nor more than two hundred dollars .
Such fine shall be applicable for each dffense
as defined by this Ordinance and each violation of the provisions
of this Section shall constitute a separate offense .
Section 4 . Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances . All existing
ordinances of the City of Wichita alls are hereby repealed insofar
as they may be inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance .
Section 5. Separability of Provisions . It is the intention
of the Board of Aldermen that each separate provision of this ordinance
shall be deemed independent of all other provisions herein, and it is
further the intention of the Board of Aldermen that, if any provisions
of this ordinance be declared invalid, all other provisions thereof
shall remain valid and enforceable .
Section 6 . Findin2 of Emer enc . This ordinance is passed as
an emergency measure, and the Board of Aldermen does by the vote by
which this ordinance is passed, hereby declare that an emergency
exists, which makes it imperative that this ordinance shall become
effective forthwith, the nature of said emergency being as follows:
That this community has had a threat of a breach
of the peace in the nature of "gang" fights between several minors
and the Sheppard Air Force Base personnel and that conditions caused
by the proximity of Sheppard Air Force Base to the City of Wichita
Falls, Texas, have over-taxed the law enforcement agencies of the
City of Wichita Falls,, -so that it is necessary to preserve the public
peace, safety, health, morals and welfare by restricting the presence
of minors in the streets and other public places for the purposes
of curtailing juvenile delinquency by making this ordinance effective
immediately .
PASSED AND APPROVED this / q \day of July,
A. D. 1955 .
Mayor
ATE
w City Clerk
PREP-AR :
City Attar ey
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