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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Law Would Spank Parents Kids’ Capers Mean Trouble For Oregon Moms, Dads

Kathleen Kreller Associated Press

Parents across Oregon soon may be required by law to mind their children’s business.

If the governor signs a parental responsibility law passed by legislators this spring, Oregon will become the first state to make parents liable for the offenses of their offspring.

Failure to supervise a child under 15 would bring a warning the first time, then punishments progressing to a maximum $1,000 fine and required parenting class.

Gov. John Kitzhaber has not indicated whether he will sign the bill. He has until July 21 to do so.

The bill is a softened version of an ordinance in Silverton, a Willamette Valley town that has seen minor crimes drop by 50 percent since enacting its law in December.

In Silverton, parents are held responsible for their children’s actions until age 18, and there’s no guarantee the first offense will result in only a warning.

So far 11 citations have been issued and two parents have been given the choice of paying a $150 fine or taking parenting classes.

The law has been popular in the town of 6,200, where houses and yards are immaculate and murals copied from Norman Rockwell paintings adorn a downtown wall.

“I think it’s great that they’re finally making people take care of their kids,” said Lorrinda Anderson, 26, brushing her daughter’s hair on the family porch. “It makes me watch my kids.”

Dick Kromminga, principal at Silverton Union High School, said most students think the ordinance is fair.

“But there are some who think, ‘I’m in high school, and if I screw up, it should be my problem,”’ he said.

Some parents hold that view as well: Three who were cited under the ordinance have appealed, saying the law violates their constitutional rights to due process.

“You cannot supervise a child 24 hours a day,” said Sylvia Whitney, who was ticketed when her 17-yearold son, Scott, was caught with alcohol. “We’ve taught him values, but when teenagers get to this age, they rebel. He made a wrong choice.”

Scott Whitney agrees that his mother should not be held accountable for his actions.

“I just think it’s wrong,” he says. “Your parents will get in trouble when you get in trouble. They push this law really hard.”

Attorney Jossi Davidson is representing the parents in their appeal.

“There are no legal expectations for parenting,” he said. “Since there is no legal standard, there is no way to show that a standard has been violated.”

Legal questions aside, city officials say the law works.

“Since the original citations were issued, there haven’t been any parents cited for the last couple of months. That’s reflective of the fact that kids are cognizant of what will happen if they run afoul of the law,” said Mayor Ken Hector.

Cities of all sizes have contacted Silverton officials about the ordinance, including New York, Dallas, Green Bay, Wis., and Picayune, Miss.

“We have had some discussion about that sort of a law, and it’s gotten mixed reviews,” said Paul Jadin, mayor of Green Bay. “We’re struggling to find a solution and if there are other states that are getting creative, we’re certainly going to take a look at following those models.”

Some question whether the parental responsibility law will translate to the big city, even with a lower age limit.

“When we think in terms of smaller cities that have less lures for kids, maybe that would be a position for that to work better. We could do that with Opie in Mayberry. But if we go elsewhere, I think we’d be missing it,” said Johnnie Gage, executive director of Portland’s House of Umoja, a youth intervention program.

Rep. Mike Lehman, the state legislator who sponsored the statewide bill, said it will work if agencies who work with youths are all on board.

“I think if local governments look at this as a way of solving some of their problems, it will work anywhere,” said the Republican from Coos Bay. “It will work if police agencies, courts and social services get together and create a plan.”

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