Weekend curfew in U. City, Center City still in effect

A TEMPORARY weekend curfew for minors in University City and Center City will remain in effect, Mayor Nutter said yesterday.

The Friday and Saturday 9 p.m. curfew was installed last month to crack down on violent teen mobs.

"I think that until we revise the current ordinance, it's in everybody's best interest to keep this in effect a while longer," Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said.

"We've got to think about what's best for the whole community, and we can't have packs of teenagers assaulting people in any parts of our city."

Minors caught on city streets in targeted areas after curfew without a legal guardian will be sent home or taken to a police station.

On the first weekend of the new curfew, 77 youths were taken into custody, Ramsey said. Three weeks into the curfew - the weekend of Aug. 26-27 - the number dropped to 22.

Nutter has directed his staff to determine whether the curfew law needs to be changed. He plans to work with City Council to update the law.

"We really want a full-out discussion with dealing with curfew," Nutter said.

The weekday curfew for minors 13 and older is 10:30 p.m.; for minors 12 and younger it's 9 p.m.

Fines for parents of children who break curfew will remain in effect. After a first-violation notice, parents will be fined up to $500 for repeated violations.

The Department of Human Services will be contacted if parents don't pick up children in a timely manner.

Also, eight recreation centers will remain open until 10 p.m.