Here's the curfew law in a nutshell

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 25, 2000

Here are some of the main points of Pinellas Park's juvenile curfew. The curfew applies to any youths found in Pinellas Park during the curfew hours, even if they are not residents of the city. If any youths were cited before the curfew was temporarily declared unconstitutional, those are still in effect. Thus, if a youth received one citation, the next will count as the second.

Anyone under 18 is forbidden to be in a public place or business between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays or between 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

Kids younger than 16 who have been suspended or expelled from school cannot be in any public place or establishment or within 1,000 feet of a school between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any school day.

A written warning is the penalty for a first violation. Juveniles can be fined up to $500, imprisoned for up to six months or both for subsequent violations.

The law does not apply to youths are:

accompanied by parent(s) or other adult older than 21 if the adult has the parent's permission to have custody of the minor.

involved in an emergency.

attending or traveling directly to or from an activity that involves the exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

going or returning from lawful employment or who are in a public place because of their business, trade, profession or occupation.

returning directly home after a school, religious or civic activity.

on their own property or on a neighbor's property if they have permission.

engaged in inter- or in-state travel with a parent's consent.

attending an organized event held at and sponsored by a theme park or entertainment complex.

The law and its penalties for parents

The parent has a duty to make sure their children do not violate the curfew.

The parent of a youth who violates the curfew receives a written warning after the first offense. After subsequent offenses, the parent can be fined up to $500, imprisoned for up to six months or both.

Parents have two defenses

The parent had notified police that the child was missing or away from home during the restricted hours against the parent's directions. The parent must notify police before the child is caught violating the curfew.

The parent used reasonable care and diligence but did not know the child would violate the curfew.

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