City Youth Curfew In Effect For Summer
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- With Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer months, children younger than 17 will not be allowed outside after a certain time without supervision, but the Police Commissioner says this is all about keeping kids safe.
City leaders are calling this a coordinated effort, as a curfew is now in effect for minors across the city of Baltimore.
If a child is younger than 14 they must be inside by 9 p.m. every night until 6 a.m. the next morning.
The curfew for teens between 14 and 16 is 11 p.m. every night, to 6 a.m. the next morning. These curfew restrictions last until the end of August.
"You'll see young people as little as 3 or 4 years old who are out one 2 a.m. in the morning and that shouldn't happen in our city of Baltimore," says Baltimore City Council Brandon Scott.
Baltimore City Police say minors have been perpetrators of recent violence in the city. Some teens were caught on camera attacking a man downtown in broad daylight, and two 16-year-olds were arrested and charged by police for carjacking a woman with her 7-week-old baby.
The police commissioner believes the curfew will keep minors out of trouble.
"We are determined to help their families and their parents make sure that they get to Labor Day with their loved one safe, sound and productive," says Baltimore City Police Commissioner Kevin Davis.
And some citizens told WJZ they endorse this move one hundred percent.
"I think it's a great idea that they are implementing this curfew. It just keeps everyone safe," says Baltimore resident Shakira Jackson.
"In this area, I have seen a difference with the children not being out in the street. So it doesn't need to be Memorial Day to Labor Day, I think it needs to be 365," says another Baltimore resident.
If your child breaks the curfew police will drop them off at what are known as Youth Connection Centers.
However, some exceptions will be made for example for teens who are working.
Councilman Brandon Scott stresses that a curfew violation will not be a criminal charge for parents. He says the purpose is to keep children safe and to connect families to services that they may need.
