Fourth City Adopts Daytime Teen Curfew

Zillah has become the fourth city in the state to adopt a daytime curfew banning youths from public places during school hours.

While nearby Toppenish, Wapato and Granger passed curfews earlier this year to combat increased daytime juvenile crime, Zillah’s motivation was preventing kids from those cities hanging around in Zillah.

“It’s not so much for the kids in our town because that has not been a problem,” said Zillah Police Chief James Gorrebeeck.

In the past few weeks, Gorrebeeck said he’s noticed an increase in graffiti and vehicle prowls.

The curfew passed Monday by the City Council bans teens 17 and under from public places between 7:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.

Exempted are high school graduates and those who have earned a general education development or GED diploma. Also exempt are home-schooled children and those with permission from school or parents to be in a public place.