As many times before, the Miami-Dade County police is once again enforcing a curfew for children younger than 17. The Juvenile Curfew Ordinance was put into effect on Wednesday and prohibits children to be out on their own between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
“It’s normally done when kids are out of school, and we’ve done it before ... usually during the summer months. That’s when kids tend to stay out later and later,” said Miami police spokesman Willie Moreno.
The curfew comes just ahead of spring break, when kids could be out late at night and has nothing to do with recent shootings, according to police.
The curfew, in place in Miami-Dade County for nearly two decades, has some exceptions. Among them are being accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or someone 21 or older with permission to be responsible for the juvenile; traveling for work or school; having written permission from a parent or guardian to run an errand; aiding or assisting in an emergency; traveling to or from school, religious, civic, or county-sponsored events; if the juvenile is emancipated by marriage or a court order; attending or returning from a public event (with permission) if the event began before 10 p.m., and being on property where a youngster lives or at a neighbor's house.
“I don’t really need a curfew, but I do feel that a curfew is important because young kids like my age are dying in the streets,” said Keith Stewart, a teenager.
Robert Sanchez, another teen, said that the curfew is needed.
“Make them go home, do a little homework, get them home early,” Sanchez said.
Cesar Barrero, an adult, pointed out that for “kids at that age … there’s nothing for kids to do from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock in the morning.”
Comments