Poll: Curfew Laws

[darkfire613]

I've always been horrible at starting topics, so I guess I'll begin with my little story regarding curfew and pointlessness thereof. Well, first, let me say no, I didn't get caught. I'm 15, and tonight we had our first real snow all year. I love snow, I love walking while snow is falling, and I especially love walking at night while snow is falling. It's just nice. There's no one else out, the world is practically silent. It's like meditation or something for me. Anyway, I went on a walk tonight in the snow, around 2:30 am, just around my block. When I got home, I went and searched for curfew laws for my region, and curfew is midnight to 4:00 am.

Now, my questions. I didn't see anyone around actually policing curfew. There's practically no enforcement. Now, granted, I live in an upper middle class neighborhood which I'm sure takes lower precedence to the low-income areas of the city, but still. Secondly, and more importantly, what does curfew accomplish? I wasn't doing anything illegal at all, I was just enjoying the night and the snow. What's it really supposed to stop? Thirdly, why are the rules for it so hard to find? The place I eventually got my answer on curfew laws from was ChaCha. I couldn't find the official law anywhere on the official state and city websites. Why is this?

Thanks for any responses, either from people who actually work in government or law enforcement, or any who just have knowledge or an opinion on the subject to share.

EDIT: After some more digging, I finally found the official laws for my city. The punishment for breaking curfew is a fine between $5 and $25. However, if the parent or legal guardian permitted the infraction, the fine would be between $25 and $200. This adds another question: Does this really affect much? $5 to $25 is not a large chunk of money for a teenager. Does this little amount really help anyone at all?

EDIT 2: Upon further thought, these fines make even less sense. Why should the teen/family be punished more if the parents knew about it? Shouldn't a teen with parental permission to be out be given leeway over one who snuck out? It just doesn't make sense.

 

[Kortney]

Remove curfew laws entirely. People should have the freedom to be where they want when they want.

 

[Serenegoose]

Remove curfew laws entirely. People should have the freedom to be where they want when they want.

Bingo! I was fortunate enough to never have to live in an area that operated a curfew when I was younger, but even hearing they existed was enough to repulse me utterly. The entire concept is wrong. Blaming an entire group for the actions some of its members may potentially commit? And the only excuse is 'well, they're young, so it's fine for us to be shit to them because that's what young people are for, right?'

 

[bjj hero]

It is the states attempt to do the job of Apathetic/neglectful/shit parents. We have no curfew laws in the UK. Curfews would not affect me so I don't mind either way. I can see reasons both for and against curfews.

 

[likalaruku]

10 years ago in a Nevada town I lived in, there was a sudden strict cerfew imposed on adolecents after a wave of teen crimes; vandilism, you-name-it shoplifting, tagging, starting fights at fastfood drive-through windows, starting brawls in 24 hour restaurants, drunk driving, punks driving by in pickup trucks & attacking cars with super soakers, street racing, mostly done by teens in late hours. We had cops out at all hours of the night. They were out around the schools at day too...Teens could go to the designated stores across the street at lunch, but if you were caught near the canal, cops would come up to you & you'd likely get escorted back to campus. & the grocery store made teens remove their backpacks before entering, only allowing 3 teenagers in their store unsupervised at a time. What a year...

 

[kitsunefather]

Check out the Becca Bill in Washington State. If you get enough unexcused absences from school, your parents can be fined or serve time in county jail.

My parents almost got fined the year we moved here because they didn't enter me into the system right the first time, and counted all the days before I officially started school as unexcused absences (I started halfway through Fall Quarter).

 

[frostyvamp]

Eh, in general, state curfew shouldn't be around, unless its a time of war or something serious like that..
Other than that, it should be the parents decision, and if kids break curfew they punish said kids.. if the kids are doing illegal actions, and get caught, then they take punishment for the illegal actions, AND being outside of curfew. another point is if they look like an unlawful character, then with the polices own judgment should they be allowed to take the kid home. and not cause they're alone or anything

 

[WolfThomas]

As an Australian I say curfew laws wtf?

 

[Talal Provides]

There is nothing for you teenagers to do out in public past midnight besides make trouble in one way or another.

 

[supermariner]

I'm british
and we don't have curfew laws here
and they've never been imposed
because they really aren't necessary
and its a case of deprivation of a persons liberty in a way

 

[Keepitclean]

In WA the only curfew laws we have is for red 'P platers'. If you have held a drivers license for less than 6 months you cannot legally drive between 12 midnight and 5am. The law is there to stop kids on their dirt week doing circlework at 2am in their dad's car.

I can see no reason for curfews to be imposed by the state during noncrisis times.

There is nothing for you teenagers to do out in public past midnight besides make trouble in one way or another.

Walk home?

 

[El Poncho]

I didn't even know they existed in developed countries until that thread earlier today!

It is stupid, it's saying all teenagers will cause trouble, innocent till proven guilty I say.

 

[Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon]

It is stupid, there's no reason to have curfew unless it's a time of crisis. I'm glad I live in Britain. Isn't America supposed to the land of the free or something...?

 

[Morgue13-2]

I'm sorry, what kind of nanny police country of hell do you live in that the government has ANYTHING to day about when you go out? Are you serious? Do you guys not have... like, parents or something?

That makes the Sims make more sense, at least. Wow.

Seriously, you're legally not allowed outside at night? You're NOT MAKING THIS UP?

 

[Gigano]

Didn't even know such laws existed in the US. Makes little sense as there are plenty of legitimate reasons for an adolescent to be travelling late, and it brands an entire demographic as would-be delinquents. Sounds like the state has taken over yet another parental responsibility, the whole Nanny-state thing is apparently well ahead of "socialist" Europe.

 

[Talal Provides]

It is stupid, there's no reason to have curfew unless it's a time of crisis. I'm glad I live in Britain. Isn't America supposed to the land of the free or something...?

How's having more more CCTV cameras per head than anywhere else in the world working out for you? It must be great being watched all the time.