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Board approves curfew for teens Teenagers are no longer welcome on the streets of Milton late at night without a signed note from their parents. The ordinance was approved Wednesday night by borough council on an 8-1 vote. The curfew went into effect following the vote. The curfew, which was requested by the police department, requires anyone under the age of 18 to be in their home or their own lawn from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday night and from midnight to 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday morning. Exceptions are given to teenagers returning from school or religious events or if they have an errand specific note with a time and date on it signed by the child's parents and listing a contact phone number. Penalties for violating the curfew include a written warning for a first offense, a $25 fine for a second offense and a $50 fine for subsequent offenses. After the second offense, parents may also be fined $100, if they were aware their child was violating the ordinance. Juveniles breaking the curfew can also be ordered to perform community service. The measure was passed by an 8-1 vote with Douglas Mapes dissenting. Michael Forbes, a resident of Milton, who
had opposed the ordinance when it was approved for advertisement two
weeks ago, again questioned council on the need for the measure. The chief also said 100 of burglaries committed in Milton this year were done by juvenile offenders. In addition, police have already made 63 juvenile arrests this year compared to 84 in all of 2003. Sixty-seven percent of those minors arrested this year committed the offense during the new curfew hours, according to police statistic. I think that's pretty sufficient evidence as to why, said Todd Reedy, borough council president. Forbes said he wasn't questioning the intent of the law, he was just afraid the police would stop and cite every minor who was on the street after the curfew, regardless of the reason. Yost also dispelled that notion. I think your reading into it. We could cite just about anybody in town for something, but we don't. They're not the Gestapo, you're stretching it all out of context Mike, added Denise Ulmer, council member. Forbes also addressed the idea that the curfew will curb the gathering of students in downtown parking lots, a notion Linda Meckley, council member, mentioned two weeks ago as a reason for the ordinance. Forbes said he went to a parking lot following the last council meeting and spoke to 12 kids. He said nine of the kids were over 18 and that he checked the IDs of three of them to be sure. He noted the curfew won't stop that group from being in the parking lot. Additionally, Forbes asked what else the youth in Milton are supposed to do instead of hanging out. He said there were few opportunities to do something other than bowling. I was always able to find something to do and it didn't involve trouble, said William Barr, council member, of his youth. Following the discussion, Forbes asked the council to further research the proposal. The request was denied and the ordinance was passed and immediately went into effect.
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