Group Launching Drive To Toughen Curfew Law

The Kootenai County Youth Task Force is kicking off its initiative drive at a volunteer meeting Thursday.

The task force is trying to collect signatures for a ballot measure that would strengthen the curfew law recently passed by the Kootenai County Commissioners.

Task force members, who are parents and members of local youth agencies, were disappointed that the curfew is later on weeknights than they recommended.

They were also disappointed that the measure does not address the problems of runaways and truants.

The initiative calls for ordinances outlawing truancy and running away from home. Now, task force members say, parents have no law enforcement tools to help them with out-of-control children.

The task force has 60 days to collect about 10,000 signatures to get the measure on a February ballot for a countywide election.

The Thursday meeting is intended to organize signature gatherers. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church at Sixth and Lakeside in Coeur d’Alene.

, DataTimes