New curfew law being introduced

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown is planning to introduce a new curfew bill during the Council meeting Thursday on behalf of the administration.

Mayor Nutter promised a new law this summer, after he unilaterally lowered the curfew in response to a series of "flash mob" attacks, in which roving gangs of kids attacked and beat random strangers.

The new law would have three structural changes:

It would lower the curfews currently on the books; it would create separate curfews for three different ages groups -- 13 and younger, ages 14 and 15, and ages 16 and 17; and it would eliminate the separate curfews for weekdays and weekends.

Instead, the new law would structure curfews around the school year. When school is in session, the curfew for unaccompanied minors 13 and younger would be 8 p.m.; the curfew for 14 and 15 year olds would be 9 p.m.; and the curfew for 16 and 17 year olds would be 10 p.m.

During the summer, the curfews for each age group would increase an hour. These curfews would apply all week.

The new law also allows for parents to be fined if their children are caught violating the curfew and they can be held liable for other criminal acts committed by their offspring.

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