City Officials Getting Word Out On New Curfew Law
UPDATED 08/12/11 10:02 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel took to the streets Friday morning to remind parents that Chicago's new curfew ordinance is now in effect.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, the mayor was was joined by members of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy at the CTA Red Line terminal at 95th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway Friday morning. He personally reminded parents that that they need to get their kids in by curfew or face some sizable fines.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports
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Mayor Emanuel said cities that have enforced curfews have, over time, seen reductions in the number of children who are victims of violence. He's hoping enforcing the curfew in Chicago will have the same effect.
"We had a curfew law on the books. It really wasn't enforced," he said. "I strengthened the enforcement, and I strengthened the law with the City Council, and I've been clear with the Police Department that I do not want to see this as just something on the books."
Of course, summertime means more time outdoors, and with no school, it also means more kids outdoors. But in the evening hours, that can spell trouble.
"if you stay outside past curfew, just like my mom said, people can get hurt, shot, or even worse, people can die," said Trounia Lowe as she played at Mason Playlot Park at Karlov and West End avenues in July.
Trounia's mother, Joan Lowe, told CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman in July that after dark, Mason Playlot Park becomes a hangout for people partying and selling drugs. Some of the kids involved in the activity are as young as 14, she said.
"The police will ride by and see kids in the playlot, and won't do anything," Lowe said. "I have a big problem with that."
Police Department statistics have showed officer-written curfew violations have been dropping.
They went from 23,275 in 2009 – when the city moved up the curfew time by half an hour – to 19,555 last year. Halfway into 2011, there have been 8,398 curfew violations.
In the Harrison District, where Lowe lives, there have been 279 curfew violations written up in six months, but Lowe said she knows there are more kids than that out after curfew.
A new ordinance was approved in July that makes curfew times stricter for the youngest minors, those under 12. Beginning Sept. 18, they will have to be in by 8:30 p.m. weekdays and by 9 p.m. on weekends.
Currently, all minors under 17 have curfews of 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. Minors between the ages of 12 through 16 will still be subject to these curfews, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Violators are subject to a fine of up to $500 or community service, according to the mayor's office. Three offenses in a twelve-month period shall be subject to up to $1,500 in addition to community service.
"It's been reported – rightfully so – that curfew enforcement is down in 2011," McCarthy said. "However, it's up dramatically in the last month. We've got more than 800 more curfew enforcement actions this year than we did last year, in the last month."
Mayor Emanuel has said police and parents must partner up for the sake of our kids.
"It doesn't mean just because you have it, kids are going to be safe, but it means that we're aligning good parenting with the laws of the city," he said.
Mayor Emanuel was at 95th and the Dan Ryan at 7:45 a.m., reminding parents that the laws have changed.
