City of Pataskala Curfew Laws

537.19 Curfew for Minors

(a) It is unlawful for any person under the age of thirteen years to be in or upon any road, street, park, public land, public place or private business open to the public, in the incorporated limits of Pataskala, between the hours of sunset and 5 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult having the care and custody of the minor.

(b) It is unlawful for any person, age 13-15 years, to be in or upon any road, street, park, public land, public place or private business open to the public in the incorporated limits of Pataskala, between the hours of 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult having the care and custody of the minor.

(c) It is unlawful for any person age sixteen or seventeen years to be in or upon any road, street, park, public land, public place or private business open to the public in the incorporated limits of Pataskala, between the hours of 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult having the care and custody of the minor.

(d) The following exceptions shall apply: On Friday and Saturday the time is extended for persons thirteen, fourteen and fifteen to 11 p.m. and persons sixteen and seventeen to 12 midnight.

(e) It is not unlawful for any juvenile to travel, traverse or be upon or in any such road, street, park, public land, or public place while directly enroute to or from: public or parochial school functions, school athletic games or events, municipal functions, religious services or functions, or any other organized function such as scouts, YMCA or YWCA, or while directly in the discharge of a bona fide and necessary errand or mission for the parent or legal guardian of such juvenile.

(f) Any juvenile taken into custody for violation of subsections (a), (b) or (c) hereof shall be placed in the following order of preference:

1. Placed in the physical custody of their parent or guardian, if available, or,
2. Taken to their lawful residence and placed in the custody of an adult residing therein, if available, or,
3. Turned over to an officer of the Licking County Juvenile Court.

(g) A violation and conviction of subsections (a), (b) or (c) hereof shall constitute an unruly juvenile offense as defined in Ohio R.C. 2151.022 and penalized pursuant thereto.

(h) The parent, guardian or other adult having the care and custody of a minor who permits said minor to violate subsections (a), (b) or (c) hereof, may be charged with contributing to the unruliness of a minor as defined in Ohio R.C. 2919.24 and penalized pursuant thereto, a misdemeanor of the first degree.