HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8313 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. A-43--i
e - April 10, 2001
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
9 1
ex Subject: Renewal of Teen Curfew Ordinance
1873
The Teen Curfew ordinance was first passed on March 3, 1992 and subsequently revised
in 1994 and 1998. The current ordinance 913449 will expire May 19, 2001. In
compliance with the City Code and State Law "Review of Juvenile Curfew Order or
Ordinance", the City Council shall:
• review the laws effect on the community and on the problems it was intended to
remedy,
• conduct public hearings on the need to continue the law, and
• abolish, continue, or modify the law.
Failure by the City Council to act in accordance within these parameters shall cause the
curfew ordinance to expire.
In order to reacquaint you with the ordinance, the basic provisions have been outlined as
follows:
A minor commits an offense if he/she remains in any public place or on the premises of
any establishment within the city during curfew hours.
• A parent or guardian commits an offense if he/she knowingly permits, or by
insufficient control allows, the minor to remain in any public place or on the premises
of any establishment within the city during curfew hours.
• The owner, operator, or any employee of an establishment commits an offense if
he/she knowingly allows a minor to remain upon the premises during curfew hours.
• Curfew hours are in effect after 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and after 12:01
a.m. on any Saturday or Sunday. The curfew ends at 6:00 a.m. seven days a week.
• A person who violates a provision of this section is guilty of a separate offense for
each day or part of a day during which the violation is committed, continued, or
permitted. Each offense is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00.
Exceptions to the ordinance include
• being, accompanied by a parent or guardian; being on an errand at their direction
without any detour or stop;
• being engaged in, going to or returning from an employment activity;
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• on the sidewalk abutting the minor's residence or abutting the residence of a next-
door neighbor if the neighbor did not complain to the police;
• attending, going to or returning from an official school, religi us,, "0
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recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the City of Fort,Wofth,rai-,
civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for he minolor;
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• married or had been married or had disabilities of minority ri .......----
with Texas Family Code;
• exercising First Amendment rights such as the free exercise of religion, the freedom
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of speech, and the right of assembly.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8313
CypATE.%� April 10, 2001
V To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 2 of 3
°oa pi
fPXps Subject: Renewal of Teen Curfew Ordinance
It is a defense to prosecution that the owner, operator or employee of an establishment
promptly notified the police department or marshal's office that a minor was present on
the premises during curfew hours and refused to leave.
Support for the Ordinance:
A random sampling of officers and supervisors working in the field agreed that the
ordinance was needed and was effective in suppressing juvenile crime and victimization.
The National League of Cities poll of 490 cities showed that 337 cities have a curfew and
35 more are considering one. Ninety-six percent of the cities with a teen curfew
ordinance viewed their law as an effective strategy to ensure the safety of their youth and
to identify gang activities at no significant cost to their respective police departments
(Youth in America's Cities, February 28, 2000).
Statistically, almost half of the police encounters concerning curfew involved multiple
offenders. Each police call averaged sixty-four minutes in length, which amounts to an
annual average cost of enforcement of$31,110 1,110 when calculated on the base hourly rate
for two police officers. Thus, the ordinance has not become a significant financial burden
for the police department to administer.
Demographics:
Of the 1431 citations issued in calendar year 2000, approximately 70% were issued to
males and 30% to females. Forty-eight percent of the total (687) were Hispanic
juveniles, 25% (356) were African-American juveniles, and 26% (378) were Anglo
juveniles. Of the ten largest cities in Texas only Dallas and Houston retain curfew
statistics based on ethnicity. The number of Hispanics cited for curfew violation in Dallas
and Houston mirrors the trend in Fort Worth. During the 2000 calendar year, 28% (398)
of the citations were issued on the Northside, 16% (230) on the Eastside, 39% (560) on
the Southside, and 17% (243) on the Westside.
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Recommendations:
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Chief Ralph Mendoza indicates the ordinance has been beneficial to the co mum'y,,`,J 6,
has also found it to be an effective tool for the Fort Worth Police
1p4rtment in,
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addressing juvenile crime and victimization. Therefore, he encourages its o
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As required by law, public hearings will be held to discuss the ordinance on April 10,
Irv , 2001 at 7 p.m., and on April 17, 2001 at 10 a.m. during the regularly scheduled sessions
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8313
T11,,
April 10, 2001
otr To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 3 of 3
Ug 1z
X Subject: Renewal of Teen Curfew Ordinance
1873
of the Fort Worth City Council Meeting. - A brief notice was placed in the Fort Worth
City Page inviting public feedback on the ordinance at each of these meetings. Should no
strong objection be made to the ordinance's extension staff recommends an M&C to be
adopted at the close of the public hearing on April 17, 2001 extending the ordinance for
three more years.
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-ary a 2'Manager
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— ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS