Earle to enforce citywide curfew for youths

Earle to enforce citywide curfew for youths

Keeping kids off the streets at night ‘ the way to do it,’ says mayor concerned with safety

news@theeveningtimes.com

Juveniles caught roaming the streets in Earle past 11 o’clock on weekends and 10 p.m. on weekdays could find themselves being taken to the police station waiting for their parents to come and get them and in court facing a fine.

Earle City Council agreed to start enforcing its citywide curfew after residents complained about out of control juveniles causing mischief.

“The law is going to start being enforced,” said Mayor Sherman Smith.

“The curfew is a serious issue. We all live here. I think everyone wants to make Earle better. The way to do it is to enforce this.”

The city has had a curfew ordinance on its books since 1991, but hasn’t enforced the regulation.

Former Mayor Otis Davis raised the issue of reinstating the curfew last month citing concerns that juveniles were roaming the streets at all hours of the night, cutting through people’s property, and cussing at people. “We’re not trying to be hard on kids,” Davis said.

“But it’s not going to get any better. It’s time we say ‘I love you, but we’re not going to tolerate you cussing or walking in people’s yards.’ It’s not a reflection on our police department. I think they will implement it and do their best. But we’re going to have to do something to cut back on crime.”

Councilman Kenneth Cross asked Smith whether the city has been enforcing the curfew.

“Are we enforcing it?”

Cross inquired.

“It’s a council decision whether they want to start enforcing it or not,” Smith said.

Smith said he has no problem with police enforcing the curfew, but feels the public needs to have advance notice that a crack- down is coming first. “It’s already an ordinance,”

Smith said. “But I don’t want to spring it on them. We haven’t been enforcing it for a while.

Maybe they can read about it in the newspaper first.”

Councilman Donnie Cheers agreed that the city needs to enforce the curfew.

“It’s the law,” Cheers said. “It’s something we should be doing, so we need to be doing it.”

“That’s true,” Smith added.

Smith asked for and received a consensus from the council to instruct police to start enforcing the curfew.

“We all agree it needs to be enforced,” Smith said.

Youths under the age of 18 will be prohibited from being outside in the city limits between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 11 p.m.

to 6 a.m. from Friday until Sunday morning.

The ordinance will not apply when the person is coming home from a school or church activity for up to 45 minutes after the conclusion of the activity.

The first time a minor is found to be out after curfew the arresting officer will take the minor to City Hall where their parent or guardian will be contacted to come and pick them up.

A second offense carries a $25 fine, third offense $50, and any time after the fourth offense will be subject to a $300 fine and will be reported to the Crittenden County Juvenile Office as a minor in need of supervision.

By Mark Randall