The Richton Park law that poses fines and manual labor sentences for the parents of troublesome children could be expanded to include youth violations of any state or local law and to provide for higher fines.
Richton Park has had a parental responsibility ordinance since 1982. When the ordinance was last overhauled by the Village Board in January of 1994 it specifically applied to violations of laws such as those governing curfew, fireworks, vandalism, truancy, loitering and obscene conduct as well as possession of liquor, drugs and spray paint.
Mayor Rudy Banovich said the law firm of Odelson & Sterk, which handles the village’s court prosecutions, asked that the law be expanded after some cases were thrown out because the ordinance was too limited.
Now every state and local law is to be included, including jaywalking.
“There is an ordinance in effect on jaywalking,” Banovich said. “If we go through the notification procedure and the kid still keeps doing it, then the parents would be subject.”
The law still will require the parents whose children were cited as offenders to accompany the child to court appearances or risk a subpoena and a contempt of court conviction.
Parents of first offenders will continue to be notified in writing that a second offense within two years may result in their being charged with “inadequate or improper supervision.”
Parents found guilty also will still face up to 160 hours of community service, which may include manual labor for the village, but the fines are being boosted to a range of $50 to $750. The original range was $25 to $500.
The revisions are scheduled to be passed by the Village Board in September.
