Georgetown City Council members consider youth curfew

Georgetown City Council members consider youth curfew

Friday, 18 July 2008

The Georgetown City Council voted to support a youth curfew in a 7-0 vote at its July 8 meeting.

The council directed city staff to draft a youth curfew ordinance and present it for first reading at the July 22 council meeting. If approved, the curfew would not take effect until after a second reading on Aug. 12.

Several citizens addressed the council in support of an ordinance that would restrict the late night activities of teens under 17. Mayor Pro Tem Pat Berryman proposed the curfew.

Berryman's curfew would call for anyone under the age of 17 to be home at 11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and at midnight on Friday and Saturday. A 10 p.m. park curfew would be in effect each night for parks in the city.

The proposal lists several exceptions, including situations when a youth is in a car on the interstate, on a parent-directed errand, going to or from work, in an emergency or with his or her parent or a spouse who is over age 18. Attending or going to or from an official school or religious activity or a recreational event sponsored by the City or a civic organization are situations that are also exempted from the curfew rule. Youths traveling to or from an exempted event must do so "without detour or stop."

Berryman's proposal suggested that penalties for violations should be established, but did not specify those penalties.

Cities that have enacted curfews for youths include Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, and Taylor.