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HomeMy WebLinkAboutG52-76 Ordinance No. G52-76 AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING ACTS OF VANDALISM AND IMPOSING PENALTIES AND RESPONSIBILITY WHEREAS, acts of vandalism resulting in damage to real and personal property committed by juveniles have increased; and WHEREAS, such acts of vandalism have assumed such proportions as to represent a serious threat to the value of the property and the welfare of residents of the City of Elgin; and WHEREAS, the City of Elgin finds that increased parental responsibility for actions of their children is essential to promote the reduction in incidents of juvenile vandalism thereby reducing property loses; and WHEREAS, the City of Elgin is a home rule unit within the meaning of Article VII, 6 and 6a of the Illinois Constitution, and may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and WHEREAS, the protection of property and reduction of criminal acts are matters within the authority of the government of the City of Elgin. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS: Section 1. That Chapter 10.65 entitled "VANDALISM' be and is hereby added to the Municipal Code of the City of Elgin, 1976, as amended, and shall read as follows: CHAPTER 10.65 VANDALISM 10.65.010. Definitions. As used in this chapter the following terms shall have the meanings recited herein: (a) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind, State of Illinois, or any governmental unit. (b) "Property" shall include any real estate including improve- ments thereon, and tangible personalty. (c) "Parents"shall include the lawful father or mother of an unemancipated minor, whether by birth of adoption. (d) "Legal Guardian" shall include a person appointed guardian, or given custody, of a minor, by a Circuit Court of this state or similar court in any other state, but does not include a person appointed guardian or given custody of a minor under the Illinois Juvenile Court Act. (e) "Minor" shall include the natural person who has attained 11 years of age and who has not yet reached 18 years of age. 10.65.020. Acts of Vandalism. It shall be unlawful for any minor to commit any of the following acts within the corporate limits of the City of Elgin: (a) Willfully, recklessly, or knowingly damage, deface, or destroy any property of another without his consent. (b) Knowingly and without authority enter into or obtain control over any motor vehicle, bicycle, building, house, trailer, aircraft or watercraft or any part thereof of another person without his consent. 10.65.030. Parental Responsibility. (a) The parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated minor who resides with such parent or legal guardian shall be liable for acts of vandalism committed by said minor. (b) A minor shall be deemed to have committed the offenses enumerated in this chapter with the knowledge, consent, acquiescence and permission of such minor's parent or legal guardian. Such legal guardian shall be liable for the payment of any fine, requirement of restitution or reparation which may be imposed by a court upon the minor defendant for a violation of this ordinance. Parental X1) responsibility under this section shall apply where a parent or legal guardian has received written notice, either by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service of summons or notice to appear. 10.65.040. Penalty. Any person convicted of any violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall be fined not less than Twenty-Five ($25) Dollars nor more than Five Hundred ($500) Dollars for each offense. Any conditional discharge of any person charged with an offense of this ordinance shall be conditioned upon the payment in full of any property damage by the minor and his parents or guardian." Section 2. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage in the manner provided by law and its publication in pamphlet form by authority of the City Council. s/ Richard L. Verbic Richard L. Verbic, Mayor Presented: December 8, 1976 Passed: December 8 , 1976 Vote: Yeas 7 Nays 0 Recorded: Published: Attest: s/ Marie Yearman Marie Yearman, City Clerk