Dateline: June 5, 2008

City curfew reactions are mixed

By Ashlyn Tubbs, Clarendon Enterprise

A proposed teen curfew has roused many different opinions from residents of Clarendon. This Teen Curfew Ordinance passed its first reading by the City Council, and they will review it again on Tuesday, June 10.

The proposed ordinance says kids ages 17 and under will not be out past 11:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday night until 6 a.m. the following day, and from 12:00 a.m. on any Saturday or Sunday until 6 a.m. of that same day. If the minor has committed an offense past curfew, upon conviction a fine that will not exceed $500 can punish them.

“We will issue warnings the first time the teen is caught who does not have a legitimate reason to be out after hours. The second time a citation will be issued.” Sheriff Butch Blackburn said.

Blackburn has his reasons for why he proposed the Teen Curfew Ordinance in the first place.

“Our last spring break we had a lot of vandalism around Clarendon mainly due to young kids who were unsupervised by their parents. Underage kids from 8 - 10 years of age were out late past midnight,” he said

According to Blackburn, Clarendon won’t be the only town around that has a teen curfew.

“I checked with several out of area towns that have a curfew, and they thought that it slowed down vandalism, and it gives us a legitimate reason to stop kids out late at night.”

When asked her opinion on the teen curfew, 15-year-old Danielle Ford spoke her mind on the issue.

“I don’t think that Clarendon needs a teen curfew because most kids here aren’t that bad anyways. The good kids shouldn’t be punished for what the bad kids do,” she said.

City Secretary Linda Smith has a different opinion of the curfew, though.

“There has been a lot of vandalism at the city airport caused by young kids. It’s been expensive to replace all the lights that have been broken out,” Smith said.

Defenses will include youth accompanied by a parent or guardian, in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel, engaged in an employment activity, involved in an emergency, on the sidewalk abutting their residence, and attending an official school, religious, or other recreational activity.

The city will review the teen curfew in six months.