Curfew curtailing problems, police say

Fewer youth have been caught out late at night since the curfew has been back in effect, police say.

By ANNE LINDBERG

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 5, 2000

PINELLAS PARK -- If the first three days are any indication, Pinellas Park's reinstated juvenile curfew is working.

Only 17 youths received warnings over the weekend. The biggest number -- 12 -- came early Saturday morning after the curfew went into effect at 12:01 a.m. The next night, police cited only four kids. Sunday night and Monday morning, the statistics were even better as only one youth was found in violation of the curfew.

"Word is getting out," Pinellas Park council member Rick Butler said.

That pleases him. He had been in the area of 94th Avenue N and 58th Street the night before enforcement began. Butler saw about 15 kids hanging out in the area late at night and a homeowner in the area told him that's typical for the neighborhood.

But the next night, only six kids were found there. That's quite a difference, Butler said, and it's good for the neighborhood, which will be quieter now.

The juvenile curfew generally forbids anyone younger than 18 from being in a public place or business from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays or from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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

Butler credited police officers' work passing out brochures at places where kids hang out and contacting news organizations for the curfew's success. But police Chief David Milchan said he thinks other factors may have contributed.

Pinellas Park passed the ordinance in 1997 and enforced it for about a year until the American Civil Liberties Union and the Pinellas County Public Defender's Office challenged its constitutionality. The ACLU and public defender's office won in the lower court and Pinellas Park had to stop enforcing it while the city appealed the ruling.

While it was on appeal, the city left up the signs saying Pinellas Park has a juvenile curfew. That meant, Milchan said, that many people thought the law was still in effect.

"We weren't required to take them down," Milchan said. "Whether or not that was our intention it seemed to work out that way."

Another reason for the curfew's success is other cities, Milchan said. When Pinellas Park passed its ordinance, it was the first in the county. Now, other municipalities, such as Kenneth City and Largo, have similar rules.

"All of that has been a great help," Milchan said.

The chief said he and other officials are not the only ones happy to have the curfew reinstated. Someone called the police department's communications center to express thanks.

"I think the majority of people want the curfew," Milchan said. "Of course, we're always going to have some people who feel their children should wander the streets at night without any supervision. We don't agree."

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