Medford Lakes attempts to rein in disruptive youth, typically not locals, with new law and curfew hours.

Tiny Medford Lakes Borough, a scenic 1.2 square miles where one out of 10 of the 1,500 homes are log cabins, at the end of April will consider adopting a new local law cracking down on disruptive juveniles.

The Police Department, which has "determined that the activity frequently involves juveniles that are not residents of the borough," sets a curfew and details parental responsibilities for the unruly youth.

"Changes to the (state) laws and state attorney general directive in New Jersey with regard to police and juvenile interaction have been softened over the past few years (and this) has inhibited the ability of the police to interact with and intervene in juveniles engaging in disruptive conduct that is harmful to the peace and good order of the community," states the ordinance, which is up for a vote in a second reading and adoption after public comment at the April 30 meeting.

Curfew-hours rule for youths under 18 in the law say they may not "loiter, idle, wander, stroll, play or remain in or upon the public streets and places or quasi-public streets and places, either on foot or in any vehicle" between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. weekdays and Sundays and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. 

The proposed law has a broad definition of "violation of the public peace" that covers juvenile misdeeds. The acts include defacing, damaging or destroying public or private property, assault, robbery and stealing, breaking and entering, threatening another with intention to extort and possession or use of controlled dangerous substances. 

Parents would be held responsible for a youth's misbehavior under the law.

"No parent shall assist, aid, abet, allow, permit, suffer or encourage a minor to commit violation of the public peace...either by overt act, by failure to act or by lack of supervision and control over such minor," according to the proposed law.

If the minor is charged with the violation of public peace, the presumption is that the parents "allowed, permitted or authorized the minor to commit violation," the law states.