Small Town Thinking About Going Back To Teen Curfew

With a population of 865, La Center is too small to have a big problem with juvenile delinquency. But the City Council still is thinking about going back to a curfew for its youngsters.

La Center used to have a curfew, but it was repealed in September 1989 for constitutional reasons, Police Chief Lori Benfit said.

“Our curfew ordinance was a criminal violation,” she said. “The new one is an infraction.”

A draft ordinance to be reviewed by the council tonight sets a 10 p.m. curfew for “unemancipated” minors on school nights and a midnight curfew when there is no school the next day.

Juveniles younger than 18 would be fined $25 to $100 for the first infraction, $50 to $200 for the second, and at least $200 for additional infractions.

Parents would receive a written notice for the first infraction, be fined $50 to $300 for the second offense and face a fine of at least $300 for additional infractions.

“We haven’t had the vandalism lately, but we’ve had stolen car stereos,” Benfit said. “The largest problem is juveniles congregating on sidewalks.

“If you take them home and the parent doesn’t care, then the kid just turns around and leaves again. This puts the responsibility on the parent.”

Mayor Chuck Smith agreed the city has the most problem with juveniles loitering.

“I don’t know how restrictive it’s going to be, but I don’t think it’s out of line,” he said of the proposed ordinance. “We do have some hanging out in town, and I would like to see it stopped.”