According to an August 16 story from The Hartford Courant, Hartford (Connecticut) hopes to stem a wave of teen crime by reviving a curfew law already on the books. Authorities believe the 9:00 pm deadline for minors under 18 to be off the streets will reduce crime, though many residents express doubts. And teens with a legitimate reason to be out past the deadline wonder what will become of them. Will they have to face police on a nightly basis as they take the bus home from work?
The American Civil Liberties Union opposes the law, claiming curfews interfere with parental autonomy. David McGuire, a lawyer for the Connecticut ACLU chapter, told The Courant the union is considering taking legal action to strike down the intrusive ordinance.
This is not the first time the ACLU has spoken out against curfews. In a 2003 article of the Cincinnati Enquirer, ACLU of Ohio legal director Raymond Vasvari is quoted as saying, “Whether or not their kids are on the street is a matter the parents should decide.” The 2003 article focused on a daytime curfew being considered in Springfield Township, Ohio.
That’s right. A daytime curfew. A similar law was passed in Monrovia, CA, in 2002, and survives despite legal opposition in the courts. At the time of the Enquirer article, Springfield was nearly the only Cincinnati locality that did not already have such an ordinance. Nearby Reading’s curfew was in its seventh year, adopted in 1996. By contrast, Grain Valley, Missouri, just adopted a daytime curfew on August 25 of this year, and citizens of Rock Springs, Wyoming are still waiting to hear what their City Council decides.
Proponents say a daytime curfew empowers police to keep teen trouble-makers – such as truants and students expelled from local schools for behavioral issues – off the streets without parental supervision. Opponents fear losing the right to be “presumed innocent until proven guilty.” “This seems to create a presumption of criminality against kids just because they’re kids,” Vasvari said.
There are legitimate reasons for (otherwise) law-abiding teens to be about town in the middle of the day. Home-schoolers come quickly to mind, but so do teens with a dentist or doctor’s appointment. Sometimes, teens are kept home from school to care for a sick parent or younger sibling, a task which can be made much harder if they are afraid to make a run to the pharmacy or the grocery store for fear of a ticket.
The ACLU is right; curfew laws do interfere with the rights of parents to direct their own children. Laws already exist to handle truants and vandals. Crime-riddled localities do not need daytime curfews, but rather better communication between schools and law enforcement agencies. Innocent students, at their parents’ discretion, have a right to move freely about their communities without fear of being stopped or harassed by law enforcement officials who, while admittedly just trying to do their jobs, overstep constitutional bounds. America is not a police state. Or not yet, anyway.
Tags: education, parental rights, violation
Proadmin's Blog 
September 26, 2008 at 8:48 pm
wow… when will it end? It seems that this country wants to do everything backwards and upside down that they can think of.
September 28, 2008 at 6:56 am
I do agree with the curfews. Many parents lacks character and let children do whatever they want. And that’s wrong, period!!! The real problem in America is that goverment screw with parents that want discipline their children; while give freedom to those that realy abuse children by real abuse or letting them do whetever they want. I go for the curfews. After 7 pm is not good for a kid any age under 18 be on the streets learning the wrong stuff. Apart the behaviour of many is stupid and annoying for decent citizens.
September 28, 2008 at 7:00 am
Oh and i forgot the ACLU is the association that fights for the rights of pedophiles. They give the NAMBLA lawyers. Don’t trust their extremely blurred vision on civils rights.
September 30, 2008 at 2:21 pm
The curfew is a good idea. It will help get a handle on trouble makers and parents that lack. But, I do believe there should be a rule for kids who have a legitimate reason to be out, especially during the day. As far as night goes, children should NOT be out at night alone anyway.
September 30, 2008 at 2:28 pm
When I still lived at home and was in junior college, I often would be stopped on my way to the grocery store or a restaurant while walking during the day, because I looked too young. Thank goodness I carried my id! Vacaville, CA where I was raised has both daytime and evening curfews for teens. Curfews are the role of parents not the government. Weak parents may allow their children to do as they will, but I’ll bet you those children are breaking other laws – gangs, drugs, loitering and could be stopped, searched and arrested for those valid charges. Curfews are for war torn countries where its not safe to leave your home like Iraq and Palestine not the USA!
September 30, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Give me a break! Once again it’s the law abiding citizens that get their rights stomped on. Typically the kids who want to start trouble won’t follow the curfew anyway. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. If my children want to play freeze tag in my culdesac on a Friday night at 9:30….they should be able to! This is America!
September 30, 2008 at 2:30 pm
There is a distinct difference between a ten year old child and a sixteen, seventeen year old who is on their way home after taking an evening class at a community college, getting done with football/cheerleading practice or a game, or heading home after spending parent-approved time with friends.
September 30, 2008 at 2:36 pm
If your kids want to play outside at 9:30PM you better be out there with them! Good grief.
Then there’s the ACLU again. I’m more concerned about them having their nose in parents’ business than the government.
What a bunch of wimps parents have become these days – no control over their children. This is why the government has to do it for you. Years ago this wouldn’t have been a problem. Stop being a buddy and be a parent. If you have a problem with a 9PM curfew, there’s something wrong with you, not the curfew.
September 30, 2008 at 2:36 pm
The problem here is that these laws are aimed at preventing law-breaking. That’s wrong, folks! A free society risks law-breakering kids and irresponsible parents. The legitamate use of freedom is too wide to list, and never complete.
God give children to parents to raise. Government is there to restrain evil & parents can ask for help from government if they need it.
I think it was Ben Franklin who said that is prople would give up freedom for security, then they deserve neither. We are backing away from freedom because we are becoming afraid; and we are afraid because we are forsaking Christ.
September 30, 2008 at 2:37 pm
No, there should not be a curfew. There are already laws on the books to deal with any behavior that might be a problem. Perhaps those laws may need to be enforced better, but a new curfew is not needed. This undermines the freedom of those hardworking and industrious young people that may have jobs or other responsibilities that might require them to be out. Our state prohibits teens under 18 from driving after midnight. My daughter worked at the local movie theater during her senior year. That meant that for the first half of the year, on Friday and Saturday nights either my husband or I had to drive her to work and then go back to pick her up. This was ridiculous, as most evenings she would be home by midnight, but we could never be sure that something wouldn’t happen, as it did from time to time, that would mean she wouldn’t be able to leave work for the 17 minute drive home until it was too late to be home before 12:00. What a waste of gas to have to make two trips, when one would have sufficed.
September 30, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Anything a teen can do after 9 pm they can do before 9 pm…
The law abiding kids aren’t going to be breaking laws anyway…
Tougher sentences for the kids who get caught breaking the law would be a better deterrent…
September 30, 2008 at 2:44 pm
It’s not being out that is the problem. Its what kids/ teens DO when they are out. Bust them for illegal behavior not just being out. My son now age 13 has been harassed by police in our town because he was carrying a campaign sign- He was working for a candidate giving out literature etc. The officer refused to do his homework and just ask for his home number and call me. He is also homeschooled and has been pulled over a few times when walking between our house and our neighbors during school hours. While I appreciate the difficulty in knowing who is truant from public school etc., a curfew will only make it worse.
September 30, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Please be aware that not all communities are safe and sane. I lived in Dayton, Ohio the nearby neighborhood was not safe for any child to be alone even in broad daylight but then again it wasn’t that safe for women alone either. In the neighborhood I live in California it is safe for the children to play in front of homes.Across town again it is not.Locality can make a difference.
September 30, 2008 at 3:06 pm
This is another example of government trying to tell parents what is best for their child. While I agree that kids need to be supervised and have accountability for their whereabouts and goingson the answer is not a curfew. At some point in this country we have to stop babying kids forever and force them to grow up. If they want to stay out late then they should be responsible. If they can’t be responsible then a parent or other adult in their lives should restrict their outings. The law can never replace a parent. Nor can we legislate common sense into the general public. I agree with the person who said that those kids who are causing the trouble are going to go out no matter what. If they break the law before a curfew is put in place, what is going to stop them from breaking the curfew law too. Let’s actually hold kids responsible for their illegal actions and stop coddling them like they are little children.
September 30, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Families should and do have the right to decide. If their decisions would not be what yours are, look the other way. We are a free country and why do you want to make it otherwise? Cubans, Mexicans, Vietnamese, Chinese and the list goes on and on want to COME HERE! Ask why?!!! Because of the very freedoms some of you would like to restrict. Ok, you people that believe we should make the decisions for everyone, absolutely no more fatty, high calorie foods, no more TV (it rots your brain), you must receive at least three hours of exercise a day, you should get that doing community service work because that’s good for your psychic, you must donate half of your income to the less fortunate whether it is because they are truly handicapped or just don’t want to work again that’s good for you, oh you have to give up your car because it is bad for the environment, you have to do without ac at home because that is a waste of energy, you want to travel where for a vacation? no that is too extravagant we will get back to you on that, heh it’s 20 degrees outside turn that thermostat up you should be comfortable at 50 put on a sweater or jacket that’s what they’re made for, and last you should never dare post anything in writing anywhere because first you need to find out if your ideas fit in with the majority! NOT!!!!
September 30, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Curfew laws are not a good idea. While I quite often disagree with the ACLU, this time I have to side with them. We shouldn’t have to give up or rights, just because a few have chosen to do wrong. The person who stated that anything done after 9:00pm can be done before 9:00 pm is incorrect. Too many young people have jobs and after school activities that do not get them home until well after 9:00. Most of these students are doing those very activities because they are responsible. Don’t punish them just because of a few other’s poor choices. Enforce the real laws that are being broken instead.
September 30, 2008 at 3:30 pm
For anyone who approves of a 9pm curfew, go ahead and enforce this with your own children. During our fleeting New England summer, my children are often out til 11pm, enjoying the warm air. They have cell phones, and we are keeping tabs on them. My children are not perfect, but they are good kids, and I trust them.
Well, enough of my opinion, now back to the laws. We have plenty of them. More and more, everything is becoming illegal. People go to prison simply for lying and for thought crimes, even if they have not committed a “real’ crime. We can even be tried criminally for offenses that OTHERS commit – for serving alcohol to someone else who later drives drunk, or for our child shooting up a school. If this makes sense to you, you are a perfect Heil-Citizen.
Our children are more and more restricted, they cannot play in the streets even in daylight without being reported and dispersed by the police. Our police bully our children, use profanity in their threats to them, accuse them as “asking for it” if they are assaulted. Our children are not loved and protected by society; they are hated and sold down the river.
You people who are denouncing lax parents are lofty at best. In the Olden Days when I was growing up, parents had almost nothing to do with their own children, and we played away from home all day long at a very young age, without adult supervision. I walked unescorted to Kindergarten and throughout elementary school. We were left alone at night when our parents went out to cocktail parties. Noone batted an eyelash, everyone did this.
Today, children are prisoners of surveillance, never more than 20 yards from an adult. To keep them entertained and at home, we have computers, video games, cable on demand. I had nowhere near this amount of stuff. My prized possession was a bicycle, and it took me everywhere. I came home at dusk. As “spoiled” as my children are with their superior possessions, I would not trade my happy, unmonitored childhood for the regulated lives my children lead.
September 30, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I remember when my town passed a curfew. To say that my mom was angry is a HUGE understatement. I was a “good kid,” and my curfew was 2 hours earlier than the city one. She was upset because it was HER right to determine when I should be home.
I am a parent now, and I feel the same way.
If people want to go after “negligent parents,” there are laws on the books for that. There is no need have anyone who looks under 18 carry “papers” to show that they should be out and about at any time of the day or night.
September 30, 2008 at 3:42 pm
American teens are THE MOST RESTRICTED group of people ON THE PLANET outside of lawbreakers in correctional facilities. Here in Utah, the law has been holding parents financially responsible when their children are caught doing graffiti. Keep the power with the parents, and set higher (not lower!) expectations on teens. “Do Hard Things” is a great read which goes into further detail – written by twin 19-yr-olds.
September 30, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Although I may not agree with every position the ACLU has taken, I carefully guard their right to represent individuals and communities who feel they have been infringed upon by either government or the majority in a community. The police should leave the role of truancy officers to the schools and parents. Granted, there will be students who have less-involved parents, but until a law is broken police should leave teens alone. I would hate for my homeschooled daughters to be harrassed by police for simply engaging in community work or activities. I will supervise my children; I don’t expect the nanny state to do my work or the work of any other parent.
September 30, 2008 at 5:20 pm
If the laws already on the books would be enforced, there wouldn’t be a problem. The problems lies in the fact that the police are just as whimpy as those parents who let their children stay out past curfew. Most don’t do anything about it.
In defense of the police, in some communities, especially larger cities, the police don’t have the time and/or resources to enforce a lot of the silly laws on the books.
Overregulation is a huge problem that ultimately solves nothing.
September 30, 2008 at 5:24 pm
As soon as the tyrants have all the babies implanted with an ID chip many of the curfew problems will disappear. That is the solution to honest teens who work late. It will identify homeschoolers who are usually Christians. There is a method to their madness to foist a leash on the sheep.
September 30, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Sue J., I so agree with you! I tried to allow my kids a lot of that “unsupervised” time and they have grown up just fine. The youngest is now 16 1/2, the oldest is 33 1/2, and all are great people.
I often allow my kids to walk a half mile down to the Dairy Isle at night. They walk with friends (2-4) and they are not doing anything bad. The area is well lit, has a lot of foot traffic, and plenty of nice people live along the way. One daughter (who will be 18 October 1 (tomorrow) always carries her cell phone.
What are my kids doing that is so “bad”? They are going down to buy slushies and sundaes. Just a week ago it was in the 90’s and hot at night and a slushie sounded just right for them about 9pm one night. Why should they not have the right to go where they want.
I am sick of all the people who think our kids cannot be trusted to make good decisions. I am also disgusted with the way our country is turning into a police state and making criminals out of kids.
And I want to know how it is that kids who are “truant” (skipping school) are bad kids? It is evil to have compulsory schooling in a free republic! My kids are homeschooled and have never been to school. They know what real freedom is.
I have raised 8 kids very successfully. None were ever in trouble with the law. None got into drugs. None have been to prison or been on probation. And none have ever been arrested. Some have done things they shouldn’t, gotten in trouble, had to make restitution (the police were never involved, we handled this problem ourselves with other parties), and the kids learned from their mistakes. It does not hang over them like an albatross making life hell.
I was born into a republic (constitution-based law), but I am now living in a socialist state. It makes me sick and makes me sad.
Parents are the best monitors of their own children. Yes, some are going to fall down on the job, but most do not. Maybe if we’d actually make our kids grow up and allow them to grow up we wouldn;t have to worry about them making the right choices.
September 30, 2008 at 8:56 pm
LoriSM, congratulations on your 8 children growing up to be wonderful and responsible human beings!
You asked: And I want to know how it is that kids who are “truant” (skipping school) are bad kids?
I sadly know the answer. Public schools receive federal dollars based on a day-to-day student head-count. If a student does not attend school, that public does not receive the funding allotted to that student for that day. This makes a truant kid a BAD KID.
When a BAD KID is habitually truant, the State will sic “protective services” on the entire family. Don’t mess with the public school’s funding.
To further corner kids into being used to fund public schools, we now have (yay!) DAYTIME curfews. During school hours, all children must be off the streets and making money for the school.
This has nothing to do with fighting crime. I doubt it even has much to do with education. Daytime curfews are all about public school funding.
September 30, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Without curfews the parents are telling the children that it is ok to stay gone as long as they desire. There is no guidelines and the parent does not care about the child. I do not control I just set guidelines that the child will live by in my home.
September 30, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I am an American citizen living in Japan. According to Japanese law, children are not adults until they reach the age of 20. A nighttime curfew of 10:00PM-6:00AM applies to all of them. While I do not agree with a daytime curfew for minors, a nighttime curfew is a very good idea, in my opinion. Many reasons exist to explain Japan’s low crime rate, but a curfew for minors helps keep children safe in Japan and would help keep children safe in the USA, too. For American children who live in Japan, the curfew applies to them, too. On the U.S. military bases in Japan, there is a curfew for minors who are American citizens, although the hours are extended on Friday and Saturday night. Many new rights and responsibilities are conferred upon new adults on “Coming of Age Day,” and the fact that the curfew does not apply to adults helps send the message that individuals are expected to use their rights responsibly. There used to be laws in the USA against minors engaging in sexual activity of any kind, but most of those laws have been repealed, with the rest not being enforced. It is not safe for any minor to engage in sexual activity before marriage, nor is it safe for any minor to be out late at night.
October 1, 2008 at 1:52 am
The postings so far certainly point out all the different opinions, rationalizations, and justifications for imposing curfews or not imposing curfews, but one has to realize that that is all they are- opinions.
The root issue is authority. God has established certain authority realms in this world he wills us to live by or we suffer consequences. Authority to direct our own children as we see fit is given to parents and parents alone. Authority to punish evil (or wrongdoing) is given to the State. For the State to usurp authority in any way that is not legitimate is wrong and we all have a responsibility to resist same. Only in those instances where the safety of children (or anyone) is at issue, does the State have the responsibility and “right” to interfere or protect the innocent.
All human beings, not just americans or those under the US Constitution, have been given certain inalienable rights. They cannot be taken away by any government, and they certainly are not granted by them. They are ours and forever will be. You can only abdicate them- give them away yourself by being passive or conforming. We all have the right of freedom of movement, even teenagers, who are human beings too and should not be treated like little children any longer.
No-one, and I repeat, NO-ONE, has the authority to take our freedom and liberty away from us unless we have committed some crime to warrant that loss of liberty, and have had the benefit of due process. To pass a law that restricts a God given, univeral liberty of all people, even those who have committed no crime to warrent that loss, is wrong and a crime in and of itself, and MUST be resisted and not tolerated.
We have only ourselves to blame for curfew laws, employer random drug testing (treating us like we were their property), compulsory education (which is a violation of parental rights) and other like laws and practices- you’ll think of a few more yourself I’m sure, because we all comply with them, we tolerate them, we don’t refuse them whatever the cost, and we don’t join together to fight them! Indeed, many who posted to this issue clearly don’t even recognize the real issue!
An illigitmate law is no law at all, and one does not break the law by refusing to obey it. Illegitimate authority is a violation of human rights and we all have the responsibility to oppose it- by any means willing and able, including the ACLU! Make a choice- live free.
October 2, 2008 at 4:33 am
This is obviously deviousness on the part of the ACLU. They don’t care about parents’ rights. On every issue they take the side of the forces breaking up families. So why support parents’ rights here? Because this is really a way to support childrens’ so-called rights to do whatever they please, and calling it an issue of parents’ rights is purely legal pretext on their part. They have done everything in the power to break up families, and as a result there is lawlessness on the streets. The community subsequently has to try and deal with that and so it proposes curfew laws, and all of a sudden, the ACLU cares about parents’ rights? Please.
October 2, 2008 at 6:56 am
To those who suggest that kids or people have “no business” being out after 9, I can think of a couple of exceptions. In the summer, it’s barely even dusk. How do you play flashlight tag when it doesn’t even get fully dark until 9:30. (It may sound trivial, yet imagine telling the kids … no, you aren’t 18, so you cannot play outside now. I know it’s not dark yet … you just have to, that’s all. What????) How about in the winter when the day is a little too warm, but after a few hours of darkness, the snow refreezes and you can get some sledding in. For those of us who don’t live in an area that gets much snow, the opportunity is rare. It’s one thing to sacrifice something for the greater good. Curfew setting the limits instead of parents is not a greater good. Most of the time, I have my kids inside at that time (aside from running the trash up to the curb … can you see it now? I’d better hide, a vehicle is coming. I need to get this to the curb without being seen – I’m not supposed to be outside right now. Sound stupid? If you have a long driveway, it might look like a kid is out playing once he’s dispatched with the toter.) I keep them in as a courtesy to those who go to sleep earlier than the rest. When they are out, I expect them to be quiet and courteous of those who have chosen not to be. Curfew is not the answer here. The ACLU got one right for once.
October 2, 2008 at 7:54 am
I find it appalling that you would side with the ACLU for anything. This is an communist based organization that fights for the rights of pedophiles, the distribution of child porn, and continues to tear apart our constitution, bit by bit.
I also live seven miles from Hartford and the violence is unprecedented. Mayor Perez is doing all he can to stop it. He is in a very difficult position trying to keep gang violence from killing innocent people and children. How would you like to go out to a town event and have your small child gunned down by a 14-year-old gang member?
I can think of no reason that any child would be out on the streets of Hartford after curfew. It is a dangerous place. These are not typical neighborhoods where children are playing in their driveways. It is where drug dealers are selling crack on the corners.
I applaud the curfew and believe you are making blanket opinions about things you know little about. I want my homeschool protected, but I won’t go by the way of the ACLU devil to get there!
October 2, 2008 at 8:43 am
If all parents would do their job as parents, then there wouldn’t be any need for a curfew at all. It’s a pity that so many parents just don’t even care where their children are. If you really love and care about your children’s safety you would not allow them to be on the streets after dark alone. We don’t live in Mayberry and it’s not 1965 people. In case you didn’t know it is 2008 and things have changed since we were kids. There ar evil, wicked people out ther who prey on children that are alone these days. Have you seen the news lately. Have you picked up a newspaper in the last 10 years. Have you visited the websites for missing and exploited children. WAKE UP PARENTS! WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t agree with the government trying to parent our children either, but for God sakes we need to be responsible parents and supervise our children at all times. They are not yet adults and they still need our guidance and supervision.
October 2, 2008 at 8:58 am
As a homeschooling parent, I DO oppose the daytime curfew as well as an early evening curfew. We have taken on the responsibility of our children’s education as well as their schedules (including outside activities) and routines and do not want the officials to interfere with this already established and lawful form of education/parental rights!
October 2, 2008 at 9:23 am
where are you DGUOR?? 🙂
October 2, 2008 at 10:04 am
I can certainly see both sides of the argument. Generally I support the ACLU. Although I don’t agree with everything they do, I think we are better off with a strong watch dog who is willing to fight for the rights of all people, even those I don’t agree with. On the issue of curfews there is a place for them if used correctly. As usual, extremists on both sides try to make the issue black and white and it isn’t that cut and dry. There can be good ways of using curfews without taking anyone’s rights. The problem I have with people who immediately start yelling about “their rights” whenever an issue comes up is I rarely hear them refering to responsibilities. If all parents took their responsibilities seiously then we wouldn’t have to worry about curfews but they don’t and so we do. Someone said curfews are for wartorn countries and places where it wasn’t safe to be out. Well, welcome to big city America. If you notice, curfews are mostly enforced in places where there are problems. I live in a small town where we don’t have a high crime rate. Although there are drugs and such, it isn’t a huge problem. We don’t have to have the kids searched for weapons in school. Generally you don’t see kids just hanging out on the streets. Kids are either at home or at an appropriate function at night. It is still safe to walk the streets at night and kids play in their neighborhoods after dark in the summer. Surprisingly, we don’t have a curfew.
I homeschool my children and I had some jerk of a neighbor call social services because my kids were out playing during the day but I showed them our school work and such and they went away happy. It was a minor inconvenience and although I wasn’t happy about it I am certainly not going to get worked up about it either. And, again I don’t think daytime curfews would inconvenience homeschooled children that much because usually they are not just our somewhere “hanging out” during the school day. They are at home doing lessons, out at a function with a parent or other adult or are in some other appropriate location doing some sort of appropriate activity, not wandering the streets. On the other hand a child who has been suspended or expelled from school probably didn’t have great parental involvement or they probably wouldn’t have gotten kicked out of school. So these kids who have behavioral issues and have been kicked out of school are now free to roam the streets getting into more trouble and not getting any kind of education. Again we talk about parental rights but when there is not adequate parental responsibility then someone else must step in for not only the safety of the unsupervised children but for everyone else. If my homeschooled child is riding his bike to the library in the middle of the day, I want him to be safe and not worry about him being accosted by some kid who is skipping school or doesn’t go to school.
I am quite certain if there was a 9:00 curfew (for example), the police would not come by and chase off a bunch of kids playing flashlight tag in a neighborhood. They aren’t stupid (most of the time) and they can tell the difference between a group of kids playing games in the summertime and a group of kids hanging out on a steet corner where they could be getting into trouble. A young person coming home from work on the bus can easily show she has been at work and is on her way home versus a group of kids cruising a drug area whose only purpose is being out is to get into trouble.
Lets not make the issue an all or nothing and whenever you are ready to make a statement involving the work “rights” stop first and make a statement using the word responsibilities.
October 2, 2008 at 10:24 am
ACLU and our kids……. They have a written history, not one that supports family values. There are daytime curfews in many locations across the country and several cities also impose night curfews for youth. Yet, many of those cities still have extreem crime rates. In my community if 5 or more youth are together on the street at any time, they are picked up by the police. Yet, we still have alot crime. The criminals need to be held accountable for their crimes, instead their ACLU or Public Defender get them off. This is were we need to fix the problems of crime, a judical system that follows the Consititution, not attorneys’ whims.
October 2, 2008 at 10:28 am
What’s wrong with letting local areas set laws according to conditions there?! People who are from other places rarely understand what went into the decision-making for a particular area. And if you don’t like the law in your area, since this is America, you can always look around to find someplace else to move to . . . somewhere that fits in better with your personal philosophy. I’m sure that curfews are probably appropriate for some areas with high crime rates, and very inappropriate for other places. Here in Boise, we have two different curfews according to kids’ ages (one is midnight), and I love it! My two teens have never been into trouble with the police, but they are also very strong-willed, and it helps a lot when they ask to be out late to simply say, “No, that’s past the legal curfew. If you want to go to a movie, go to the earlier one.” The law here is very common-sense, in that it makes an exception for kids who are working late. When my son was working at Circuit City when he was sixteen and was working really late hours as Christmas approached, all he had to do was tell the police that he was on the way home from work . . . no problem. I would be very much opposed to a daytime curfew, but then, that’s probably why we don’t have one here– we don’t need it!!! Areas with curfews probably have a very good reason . . . and unless you live there, it’s hard to be able to make an informed argument one way or the other.
October 2, 2008 at 10:43 am
I think if a TEEN needs to be out then they can show proof of where they have been and why. I live in a nice neighborhood in Louisville, KY but I work near a theater some of the kids come out after the last movie at say 10-10:30 and dont’ get a transit bus back to where they live until almost an hour later.@ 11:30P,. so they come to where I work and start loitering there and causing trouble… stealing need I say more.. the regular customers dont’ want to come into the establishment since there is a large group of kids hanging out, sure we can call the police but that does nothing except for the moment. Kids today don’t respect authority and think they are immune to any rules anywhere. Their response: What are YOU going to do about it…
If you leave it up to the parents that is a total JOKE as many of today’s parents don’t have ANY control over their children. Some are so tired and strung out that if the kids are out of the house then they are out of their hair…
Sorry to say but it is so true. Children no matter what their age until they are an adult need supervision and boundaries… thus a curfew is needed.
October 2, 2008 at 10:47 am
Initially I was against curfews. But then I realized this keeps my kids safer. Cops aren’t going to pull over every kid (or adult who looks like a kid). There would be no end to it. This gives them an excuse to pull over any youngster appearing suspicious. Its not about your kids playing in the cul de sac. Most kids die from auto accidents. Most auto accidents are alcohol related. Add it up. Should kids really be out working past 9pm and is it really that important to be taking these extra classes. What about being at home with the family?
We Homeschool. If you do to and your kids are out around town during the day without you- then you put every homeschooler in your state at risk -SHAME ON YOU! Such actions are only selfish and prideful. The point of homeschooling is to be able to directly supervise your children. When other parents see them running around during the day some of them will get jealous and/OR feel guilty about not teaching their own kids. These are the people who will push for legislation restricting all homeschoolers and requiring teaching certificates etc.
Stop putting EVERYONE ELSES kids at risk by your FEELINGS ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS. They aren’t your rights, its your kids, and children do not have the rights or responsibility of adults. In your home and in the community in your presence they are under you, but alone, the community has the RIGHT to restrict them, because THEY’RE CHILDREN.
October 2, 2008 at 10:56 am
Ludwig is absolutely right about the ACLU. They have no problem with laws that restrict parents from disciplining their children and they are all for the Agenda 21 Convention on the Rights of the CHILD. They have no problem with HATE crime laws that destroy the bedrock of EQUALITY. No problem with gun bans and no problem with laws restricting free religious speech. The government is anxious to be the “parent” of our children! When in doubt choose LIBERTY.
October 2, 2008 at 11:48 am
The government needs to be stopped from dictating to parents. The law may be for children – as someone already asserted – but it impinges on parental rights when it sets rules for our children. The government does not have the right to set rules for MY children (only I should have that right), so they are violating MY rights if they do so in any way.
Some may feel the curfew is sensible and, therefore, should be reinforced. Unfortunately, there are many parents who rightly feel it is not at all sensible. The government should not now – or ever – be the decider of how we raise our kids. It isn’t the governments job to decide what is sensible where my children are concerned. That is my job and anything that encroaches on my right to make decisions for my children is wrong. Though, clearly, many parents out there do not make the right decisions for their children, this does not justify the government making decisions for parents. It’s a right. As such it belongs to the parent to use freely.
October 2, 2008 at 11:52 am
Ha! The ACLU actually supports your cause, yet still you cry, “Wolf!”
In truth, the ACLU prides itself on taking a stand against the infringement of Civil Liberties for all Americans (I think that’s implied in both their name and their charter… strange), and that includes Christians and their children.
Certainly, curfews like this are wrong, and they promote Fascism. But, for those who support the curfews (especially the daytime curfews), I have an idea which should reduce the impact such curfews would have on innocent home-schooled students:
Require home-schooled students who are out and about to wear a yellow [reflective] star on their clothing for ease of identification. This will enable responsible police officers to quickly and visibly determine which minors are breaking the curfew(s) legitimately, and those who need to explain themselves.
—
Sure, many of us recall with no small amount of glee the days of our youth, when we were allowed to roam free in Suburbia (or Ruralia, as it was in my case). In a society bereft with childhood obesity (stemming largely from adult obesity and sedentary lifestyles), why do we require children to stay indoors?
Certainly, the desire to inhibit mischief and bona fide illegal behavior — amongst all age groups — is noble, but clearly these sorts of unnecessary curfews go too far.
Put aside your petty arguments with the ACLU and recognize that even the bitterest of enemies can become allies when a mutual threat looms.
This entire article, and the comments which follow, are dripping with irony, and I only hope that some small percentage of you can actually grasp it.
—
Stan
October 2, 2008 at 12:17 pm
ACLU is a terrible twisted organization that supports pedophiles;which is sick- period.However;I agree with evening curfew only!!Not daycurfew.Keeping teens off the streets at night will protect them from all negative conduct,loitering,gang fights,rape crimes,drinking/drug on streets,etc. granted sex and other stuff will happen in homes too but this will push parents to partake more in where their kids are and force parents to do what they should do;PARENT.whatever happened to the commercial It’s 10’o clock do you know where your kids are? You will NOW..Parents do your damn job.
October 2, 2008 at 12:26 pm
YES Stan I agree that teens need to wear identification;that is Homeschooled teens at least to prove their reasons why they are out during the day.But make it clear that Homeschoolers should have a valid reason for being out during school hours,come on you can be flexable on your hours but where are you going during the day without a parent under 18???????Come on people you complain about every Law that steps on your toes BUT you don’t want to PARENT.So, someone has to get those wild,little troublemakers full of bad influences off the street. if you don’t then Laws will.I homeschool and you won’t see our kids on the street for NO REASON.Heck no, curfew hear hear !!!! What do teens need to do in the nighttime under 18 anyway??Come on parents pleaseeee. Go to BED..Once you’re 21 do whatever the hell you want to do and parents won’t get in trouble under Law.But now its the time to RAISE YOUR KIDS OR DON’T HAVE ANY..
October 2, 2008 at 1:00 pm
We are on a very slippery slope here. This country is based on self government yet we continually are ready to give up our self government. There should be curfews but those curfews should be set and enforced by parents.
The reason these areas have bad gang problems are because we do not hold the parents or the children responsible for their actions. We do not enforce the law. These kids get arrested, go through the system and are back out on the streets in days because “they are just kids”. The parents are not held responsible for any action their children do so they continue not to care.
My law abiding children who are not old enough to be out yet, will someday have to take a class or go to some other function and will now have to deal with this loss of their rights. These problem children, who will not obey the law anyway, will roam free and continue to cause trouble. There are gun laws here where I live yet these problem children still get guns and shoot each other and everyone else. Don’t they know that they are breaking the law? The only people that don’t have the guns are the ones who are obeying the law, and guess what? They are not a problem.
My question to you parents out there is what rights are you willing to give up next? Maybe we should just have children and turn them over to the State so we are all safe and they are safe. Perhaps we can put cameras everywhere to make sure we are all obeying the law. Maybe GPS tracking by the State to make sure we are where we are suppose to be. Where do we draw the line?
As far as tagging my kids showing they are homeschoolers or anything else is a very scary idea and reminds me of something that happened in Germany a few years back. I will never allow that to happen on my watch.
It is very sad to me, to see just in one generation how much we are willing to give up of what ours parents and grandparents fought so hard to preserve. I liken Americans today to the spoiled children of rich parents who never had to work or pay for the things they have, and so readily toss them away with little concern.
Parent’s, don’t be so ready to give up your rights. Let us fix the problems we have with the laws we have. Let us enforce those laws and not by punish law abiding citizens.
October 2, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I am going to disagree on this one. Where I live there is a town nearby where there is a curfew for anyone under 16. They must be in before 9pm. I do think this is a good idea.
First of all, if a curfew is for those under 16 for 9pm and those 16-18 for 10 pm I think the inconvenience will be slim. Our teens should not be working that late anyway on school nights, they will have the rest of their lives to work from dawn to dusk. Education is much more important. Also, most jobs are done by then anway. Malls close mostly at 9pm during the week and you usually have to be 16 to work there so I don’t see how this is really a conflict of interest.
Folks, lets face it. It may be a “parent’s right” to let their kids out to all hours of the night but how many of you do this? How many of you does this really affect? If your child is “merely going to or from work” won’t they strictly be in public transportation? How many of them walk? They are either driving, driving together or being picked up/ dropped off.
These curfews are aimed at those who are walking around streets with no apparent aim or goal. Let’s not consider our police offers to be ignorant morons. They are professionals who know the difference between the dressed nicely kid who is coming from work, they won’t recognize him/her as one of their “regulars” that they pick up every other night. It also will only target certain areas of towns or cities where crime is much higher. Kids aren’t usually wandering aimlessly in nicer areas and if they were, wouldn’t you rather have them home safely?
This curfew schedule works beautifully here, the crime rates are down, the area is clean, there are fewer hassles and teen drinking accidents and/or drug busts. No one is complaining. Kids manage to get to and from work without problems (the mall which is HUGE is loaded with them).
I am not in agreement that this is to take control from parents. I think it is about addressing a larger issue. I do agree the daytime curfew is a bit extreme. That makes no sense to me. Most crimes are not committed in the daytime.
Also, as a mother of 3 boys, I don’t want them out and about after 9pm. They don’t need to be. Idle hands are the devil’s mischief.
October 2, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Oh one more thing, if you are worried that this curfew will affect Flashlight Tag, it won’t. Curfews are only for STREETS. Not your backyard.
October 2, 2008 at 2:29 pm
The point is when will it stop. They are passing laws on transfats and every other nanny law you can think of where I live. Here in California we pride ourselves on the many nanny laws we can pass and restrict our people with. It’s not about whether or not we do or will let our kids out, it is about self-government and what this country was founded on. There are plenty of socialist governments around the world people can live in… let’s not make this country another one. The same officers “that are not morons” will be able to tell who is a troublemaker and who is not without having a curfew law. If we got out of the way of our law enforcement and actually made people pay for their crimes we wouldn’t need these stupid nanny laws.
Self government, lets get back to what our country was based on and stop making excuses.
October 2, 2008 at 3:03 pm
When I was a child (not so long ago really)we used to enjoy a game of “kick the can” or catching lightening bugs. My parents were notholding my hand during this time, nor were they irresponsible. They knew where I was and who I was with, I was also expected to be within whistling distance of home(my Dad’s whistle could travel let me tell you!) My friend’s mom had a big metal bell by the front door to call them in when the time came. These were some of the best times of my childhood.We had a little freedom to explore but rules and regulations set by our parents to keep us in line. You can bet when we did something we weren’t supposed to do, minor as it may be, our parents knew about it well before we ever got home! It takes a community of caring, involved adults to safely guide and protect our children. It makes me very sad that I can’t allow my kids that kind of freedom because of all the dangers that are lurking that just weren’t there 20 years ago. And even if they were there the opportunity wasn’t because your neighbors and parents’ friends always had one eye out the window. I am a homeschool mom and there are times my kids need to have that 30 minute break to be able to get some energy out (recess anyone?)I should be able to allow them that freedom(without the really scary star which I think was purposefully scary) My 10 year old should be able to have some privileges that her 2 year old sister doesn’t have, its the beauty of being the older one! What about days when even the school kids are off school? What about vacations and summer break? I, unfortunately, have the typical, mean-hearted neighbor who loves to cause trouble. This causes me to worry about letting my kids ride their bikes around the block or play in the backyard alone. This woman is the exact person who would call because my children were out with their friends playing tag after 9:00. So, while I have a hefty respect and admiration for law enforcement I do believe this curfew law could and would be abused and misused. If “they” are going to use it against “bad” kids there will be some “good” kids who are collateral damage. There are some good reasons to be out after dark, as well as bad ones! What about a school dance or friday night football game or after youth group at church? Who are you to decide my kid can’t have a job? Its a great way to teach responsibility. Why do you get to decide my kids should be in bed by 9:00? At 2,8 and 10 sure, at 17 not so much! I believe that we have enough laws and the gov’t has enough control over us. If kids are out causing trouble the police have enough tools at their disposal to stop them. Nope, we can’t parent everyone’s children. Thank goodness! I don’t know about you but I have enough work with my own! Yes, parents need to be responsible for their own kids and you are right there are those who won’t be. Another law will not change that. Its another case of keeping honest people honest. Do you really think law-breakers like drug dealers, gangsters and rapists are going to care about a curfew law???? PLEASE!!!!! It makes me laugh! They don’t care about the death penalty but they are going to be scared of a misdemeanor (at best)? I am not a fan of the ACLU by any stretch but I must say I think they may have this one right.
October 2, 2008 at 3:52 pm
We all have valid opinions.It all goes back though to parents who don’t raise their kids with respect and who may not have learned this from their parents.Sadly, this chain of disregard hurts us all.Any teen under 16/18 just doesn’t have any bizness being on streets after 9pm.There is always an adult in the family or a friend of family that can work out an occasional pick up kids or drop off kids after hrs.Exceptions like prom, parties, etc will be understood by Law Enforcers.Come on people, unless you’re sheltered yourself;you must know we’re talking about the teens who you’ve seen hanging around your car in the mall,loitering and spitting,smoking while staring you up and down.The ones in the park when its pitchblack with a dim lamplight.The ones walking up/down streets (city areas)looking for trouble.The ones in (country areas)lurking in the shadows of bushes and you’ve seen them and got a bad taste in your mouth too.The ones who go around bending the flag on mailboxes,cursing and being loud in front of your home while you try to settle down your kids.The ones who lean against Chuck E. Cheeses windows looking in and staring at you cause they can’t afford to get in.I’ve witnessed this my whole life.In NYC where I grew up and now for past 10yrs. in Raleigh,NC both city/country parts.I don’t like the way they look at me while I”m alone/with my boys/husband.They give us the Don’t mess with us or you’ll get hurt stare.I hate when they cut through my yard at night and the next morning something has been stolen.I agree with all of you but parents are not raising their kids right.I saw this summer teens hanging at the pool this one slut girl was riding a teen boys lap.in front of me and other smaller kids.Luckily her dad one day popped up at the pool.He watched her for a few minutes and yelled for her to open the gate.I prayed he saw enough.She denied everything he asked her about.Now I wanted to run to him and say she is loose with these boys.But I also know if I tell on these kids they will egg my house.I know this girl will be pregnant before we see 2009.These kids need supervision and not independence.Until 21. Stop defending these teens…..
October 2, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I also am soo glad to not have to hear or see half naked teens playing basketball outside my window all hours of day into night.Thank God for a covenance in my neighborhood.The cursing,spitting,fighting,sex cat calls when girls hang out and watch.The litter they throw on the ground when they’re done.The problems with turning around cars that don’t have room cause teens are in the street.Even if they play in someones’ yard; RESPECT your neighbors.Not all night you can’t play your rap music after 11pm come on where’s my peace and quiet..Homes are expensive to buy/live in and care for.You can’t just move out because of nuisance teens.They need to be STOPPED
October 2, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Some teens threw beer bottles at my wife one day a few years ago when she wouldn’t respond to their cat calls.It was lucky they missed her someones’ teen would’ve been hurt by me.These kids want to act tough, think they’re men but don’t know anything about Respect.These girls are sluts and all they know is lying on their backs.
Keep these teens of the street and busy with positive activities that will help them learn how to act and have fun.You can play BBall with your shirt on too you know.Leave the trashiness in the trash and let’s raise the next generation with a better way of thinking.It takes a village to raise a child…….
October 2, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I agree with the curfews. There are too many parents that are more concerned about their careers than their families. The breakdown of the family has many kids turning to the gangs and the streets. They don’t respect the parent or anyone else. It use to be everyone in the area knew the kids and watched out for them as well as telling the parent what was going on. Now everyone looks the other way. Something has to change.
October 2, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Some parents don’t even want you telling them what their kids are doing.I saw my neighbors’ son kicking another neighb kid in the stomach so I called her.She just said OH- and hung up.The poor kid is smaller and younger than him so I ran outside and yelled at him to stop.He did and I told our boys no playing with him.Now one yr. later he comes around sometimes to say hi to our boys but they are ready.All of them are 11.So why shouldn’t we encourage curfew?I don’t want my boys getting hurt by other 11 yrs. old bullies who want to act big and bad.A 12 yr. on the news drove a car while drinking alcohol and crashed it.Don’t you watch the news??Kids are smoking,having sex,selling drugs,all kinds of crimes breaking and entering,cursing at everyone..all under 16..Let them do this in their own backyard and not on the streets..
October 2, 2008 at 5:29 pm
When the ACLU takes a position, my gut reaction is to oppose it. The ACLU has never been in support of parental rights. They’ve consistently opposed religious freedom in the public square and public institutions – particularly children in school.
On the subject of curfews, I don’t think anyone would disagree with the fact that minors have a higher propensity to commit crimes and mischief when left to their own devices after hours. When I was a teenager in Los angeles in the 50’s we had a 10pm curfew and our parents supported it. There were times when my friends and I were coming home from a late movie and we’d be stopped by juvenile officers. They would just question us about where we were coming from and told us to be sure to go home. They had good instincts into who were trouble makers and who weren’t.
My question is, how does allowing non-parental supervision become a “parental rights” issue?
October 2, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Freedom should be the FIRST rule of thumb !!! NO Citizen regardless of their age or time of day , should be ticketed for walking out in public , doing no harm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t see this so much as aparents issue as avoiding a POLICE STATE issue. There are teens living on the streets because it’s NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO GO HOME !!!! Ticketing them for existing where they can exist is NOT a solution . They have enough to deal with . Creating greater fear of law enforcement will drive them toward crime , not away from it . Tens of thousands of teens in this country don’t have homes to go to , day or night .
This reminds me of the town in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ” that outlawed children . All the kids hid & lived in an underground cavern ……
October 3, 2008 at 2:42 am
The point here is not these problem kids, because they will still break the law, that’s what they do. That is why they are problem kids. You can give up your freemdoms for a quick fast food fix like a lot Americans today want to do. I am not willing to so easily give my freedom over to Big Brother. Like I stated earlier it’s not about whether you let your kids out or not, the issue is what right does the government have to tell us how to live. In California we are trying to regulate what people eat, whether we can homeschool or not as well as a list of other things. What’s next? Will they tell us how to discipline our children. Maybe what we feed them. (they are close to doing this in California). Maybe we can all wear uniforms.
I will not sacrifice my freedoms or those of my family on the alter of convenience!
October 3, 2008 at 11:33 am
I have an idea! Let’s outlaw crime! Legislating always fixes our problems!
October 3, 2008 at 11:34 am
Or better yet, we can all vote to outlaw crime, and have our judges sign whatever the heck they want into law in direction opposition to the will of the people! Hey, it’s worked for California!
October 3, 2008 at 3:05 pm
WOW I cannot fathom what I am reading… Some of you seem to be living in the stone age. I have 3 kids.. And there are plenty of times we are out later than 7pm, it is called sports. As my kids grow, by the time they reach Jr. High, they will probably be walking to these activites by themselves or with friends. Kids in highschool typically need FREEDOM to get lifeskills. Not to mention most kids I grew up with including myself had jobs, sometimes we didn’t get off of work until 12am.. Should we have gone straight home ? No usually we would go to our local Dennys, have some coffee, talk a lil bit, unwind, and then get home. My own Parents were strict about a lot, but they also trusted me to make my own decisions. And funny, I never got into any trouble, nor did my friends. I think it is really sad some of you think a 17 yr old should be home by 7pm… LMAO.. I suppose you also think they should only be watching seasme street as well ? Kids have lives…It is important to let them be who they are, and to get involved in the community, by means of sports, community service, and work, especially right before college. I do think parents should always ask four important questions, WHO? WHY? WHEN? WHERE?… But as far as a curfew, it is over-rated. Besides half the kids that do get into trouble, are the ones that end up lying about where they are going, and sneaking around because their parents are simply caveman like when it comes to letting them be kids. Pathetic, if you cannot trust you’re kid as they near adulthood to make informed decisions, perhaps you are doing something VERY wrong… Evaluate yourselves, before you go pointing fingers.
October 3, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I have a novel idea. Why don’t the police just enforce current laws, and arrest the kids who are obviously out committing crimes. Here is the problem with these type ordinances. They are just like all the other existing laws. The only folks that it will be enforced on will be the otherwise law abiding citizens.
Kids who are out committing crimes and are involved in gangs are just going to take a run for it and evade police anyway. The kids who are just out talking with their friends will not run, and therefore be arrested and their parents, will have to pay the fines. As usual, the laws will be enforced on the good, and the real criminals and gangstas will walk, and their deadbeat parents will not pay a dime.
October 4, 2008 at 3:03 am
Hear! Hear! Now I am starting to hear some sense. The more we are willing to give up our rights as parents and to self government, the more we will rely on the government to raise our children. We will become lazy and complacent and begin to give up more and more until there is no turning back. Like frogs in water the heat will continue to turn up till we are soup.
What seems like a sensible and harmless law is just another step in the demise of our freedoms as Americans.
If we enforce the laws we have, and hold people responsible for their actions, we will be able to take care of these problems. If they want to pass more laws, let them be increased penalties for the crimes.
October 5, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Yeshua, LOL. Jerome, police are reactionary and often, they pursue what they know they can conquer (much like which country Bush decided to attack to call something a war). “Catching” a child outside is “easy.” Enforcing other crimes after they are committed are more difficult. These curfew laws are not “proactive” but reactive to a problem (crime) that the police do not know how to creatively and constructively resolve.
More laws, more committees, more restrictions rarely resolves the problem. Normally, law abiding citizens follow the law and those you write the law to govern ignore the “tougher” measures. If they ignored the first law, they’re almost certain to ignore any stricter laws. If you can’t manage with a little, you’re unlikely to manage with a lot. We don’t need big government. We need to let parents be parents so that the children in America can be guided in their youth.
I haven’t read the law proposed but usually they outline that the curfew is for children unattended by their parents or guardians. If the parent/guardian is not with the child, then there is usually probable cause for an officer to stop a child, under the curfew laws. The laws should allow for “common sense” as driver’s license laws have outlined. For example, teens should be able to go to work or any other legitimate reason (prom night – a school function, dual enrollment college class attendance, etc.).
Between 1P-4P and 9P-2A, too many juveniles get into trouble. While I do not “agree” with curfew laws, many are already on the “books.” And, some jurisdictions have a huge juvenile delinquency problem because the parents are not doing their jobs. I am not in favor of a curfew, but, if one is in place, the restrictions should not be too prohibitive for young people that it impedes them from fulfilling their increasing responsibilities and civic duties.
October 6, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I’m all for parental rights, but I most definitely agree with any curfew law. I believe, if written correctly and wisely, if any teen / child has a need to be out and about for a necessity that police could contact a parent or guardian and verify or confirm that the child is doing something legitimate and will return home as soon as the task is accomplished. Many children / teens / young adults die because they’re walking the streets alone late at night for no apparent reason and are abducted, raped, abused, robbed and etc. This curfew will help minimize that. There’s good in this curfew. Some parents have lost the authority over their children. Their children have become so independent that they will charge at their parents just for telling them they cannot go out on a school night or stay out late on the weekeneds. Let’s be realistic, we can get all the help we can get. I’m am all for the curfew.
October 6, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I guess I am a fence sitter on this issue. From a philosophical standpoint I oppose the curfews. From a practical standpoint I can see their value in dealing with specific issues within a community. While it nice to have a curfew in place to deal with children who are not properly supervised by their parents or guardians, it has to be implemented with some flexibility and judiciousness.
We have a 7 pm curfew in the business district in our community for people under 18 not accompanied by a parent or guardian. (Which I think is too early, but most of the youth generated crime and vandalism was committed between dark and 10 pm.) While I support the idea of controlling the roaming bands of youths during dark hours in an effort to limit vandalism in our downtown area after the stores are closed, I have been disappointed at the sometimes heavy handedness of its implementation. Also, because of the location of the local post office – in our primarily residential area, though technically business district – this has caused some problems for families along our street when children have been outside after the curfew.
As a homeschooler, I oppose the idea of daytime curfews for children. Period. One community I lived in would stop children with adults and question the legitimacy of their being out of school during normal school hours. Admittedly, this was a decade ago when homeschooling was not as prevalent as it is today. Still, it would have gotten my dander up to have to prove that my child was legal being out during school hours. On the other hand, if it was my child being abducted, I would be the first to thank the short-sighted fools who implemented such a restrictive law in the first place.
In our community the curfew is rarely applied to children driving cars on roadways, but often applied to children parked in private or public areas after dark. That allows those who drive to go to and from activities and jobs unimpeded. (We have no public transportation to speak of in our primarily rural area.) For those under 18 who need to walk home from work or a late school activity, it can be a potential legal issue to do so. Being a small town, it doesn’t take too many times being stopped to for the local police to metally add a child’s presence during curfew in a restricted area to their mental list of exceptions, but this would not be possible in a larger town or city.
Like I said, I’m a fence sitter on this issue. Sometimes it’s hard to balance the needs of a community with the rights of its individual citizens. Probably the proper balance point of the two is different for every community, which makes absolutes hard to find on this issue.
October 13, 2008 at 6:45 am
I think the curfew is a good idea, the “good kids” of yesterday are far and few between, the parents of today are restricted in disciplinary choices and the kids of today will do as they want to do,as they are taught in school they have rights and don’t have to listen to their parents( Florida schools are only concerned with the FCAT Test and blantantly tell students this is all that matters in the household and to ignore parents wishes, needs or wants, i’ve seen it first hand in my childs elementary school ) they won’t listen to their parents,there is no reasoning with them either as they blackmail parents for reporting them for false abuse accusations if they don’t get their way(my preteen has said she will hit herself in the face and report me if I try to restrict her, this is why I now homeschool as she got this idea from other students in the public school system). For those who are out for legitimate reasons, it is no big deal to show your ID to the police, for those who are not, it will help the parents get the help they need to control unruly teens and protect themselves from lawsuits stemming from malicious activities…..sorry to be a pessimist, just the times we live in
October 21, 2008 at 12:02 am
Curfews will only hurt those that abide by the law. Most kids that get into trouble will not worry about a curfew, or just practice means of hiding from cops when they are out late. Plus the parents that truly do not enforce proper rules on their children to begin with are not going to start just because the city law says so. If a child consistently skips school and the parent hasn’t put a stop to it, how are they going to be responsible for making sure the child is home early.
October 26, 2008 at 12:49 am
Irma, I think the police hav better things to do (like cathing real bad guys) than calling every parent of every child they find outside.
November 2, 2008 at 10:46 pm
The curfew law is good for officers for field interviews to determine if a law is being violated. It provides a tool for officers to deter crime and/or establish probable cause for arrests. Curfews were established because of a need that developed from lack of parental supervision. The government should not have had to establish that kids need supervision at any particular hour. Unfortunately, not all parents “raise” their children. Anyone can give birth (or assist in procreation) but being a parent is a totally different matter. Laws already establish driving restrictions on licenses, etc. (such as the minors must wear a helmet) so adding work stipulations (or other similar duties) would not be overly burdensome as well. The danger is Americans (juveniles and adults) being under a police state rule with having to carry ID that stipulates when you’re allowed out. So, we have to be careful anytime we give up our Constitutional Rights. Opening the door let’s in a lot of pesky flies (and unwanted new laws that strip our rights).
November 17, 2008 at 1:42 am
creating a cerfew will not solve any problems curently experianced. Those who choose to cause problems do it knowing they are doing wrong. Laws only govern those who obey. A new law of this natuer will only restrict further those who are willing to be considerate. The relief will be found in increasing severity of convicted punishments. And reducing (with the constant goal of eliminating) repeat offenders.
the above writer “Dgour” I am sure would agree. when I say that our peace officers already have a duty and right of office, to interseed any place in public, with any one who appears to be involved in suspicious activities no matter what age.
a young person walking down the street is not supiciouse. a young person doing the same at say 10:00pm could be viewed as such. Therefore Mr/Mrs police person would have no objection from me( a responsible parent ). If they were to inquier from my child just what it was they were up to, and why they were away from home.
there is a problem yes. but writing up more law will never solve problems. it just makes life more complex for the citizen willing to be considerat of those laws. As with most things education is the awnser. Teaching people to respect others and use a great deal of self control. No law will replace or create self control or respect.
It is simple really respect and self control. and more sevier harsher punishments for those who choose to do wrong. Frankly I feel when one choses to disregard the freedoms and rights of others they willingly choose to suspend their rights.
November 21, 2008 at 12:54 pm
i dont a gree with this article i think we should come in when ever we want
November 26, 2008 at 10:56 am
I have not read everyone’s comments so I don’t know if this has already been mentioned. I have a theory. The ACLU wants to stop curfew. A red flag goes up. But a curfew seems like we are losing our freedom. Okay then: When do most kids do drugs? When do most robberies happen? When do most drug deals happen? When do most fights/murders happen? When do most girls get pregnant? When do most kids get hooked on pornography? When do most kids learn to smoke? When do most kids learn to drink alcoholic beverages? It is kind of a no-brainer. The answer to all these questions and many more that I haven’t the time to write is:
at night!!! The ACLU would lose all of their CUSTOMERS if there was a curfew!!! Young ladies and young men would stay at home and be part of their family. Wow, that’s a foreign thought. They would learn how a “family” actually function. They would be more selfless and less selfish. They would learn ways to communicate and quell strife. They would learn how to make decision as adults because part of their ‘company’ would be mom and dad, not a bunch of peers who have not experienced situations in life that parents have. Peer dependency is a cancer. It is eroding our society. Kids can still do “sports” but the parent must be involved. As for kids having jobs, they can work right after school and then come home to do homework at night. I, personally, would not want my young teenage daughter or teenage son out at night because of a job. A job is not worth his or her life or purity.
So the ACLU wants YOUR CHILDREN to continue being their CUSTOMERS(Planned Parenthood, Porn seller, etc.). The ACLU wants them to continue with what they are doing now, in the name of “freedom”, so you don’t mess with THEIR status quo. They don’t care how many “scars” your children receive. Of course, all in the name of “freedom”. GO FOR IT!!!
By the way, if you have ever had a scar, you know, they DON’T go away!!
December 3, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I think that parents should set the time of the curfew for their children. It would be so much easier. Parents who trust their kids shouldn’t have a problem with letting them go out to do things. Not all kids are into drugs and crap! That is just ridiculous the parents of the children who do things like that are to blame not every other person.
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December 3, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I think that parents should set the time of the curfew for their children. It would be so much easier. Parents who trust their kids shouldn’t have a problem with letting them go out to do things. Not all kids are into drugs and crap! That is just ridiculous the parents of the children who do things like that are to blame not every other person.
December 12, 2008 at 11:56 am
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