Miami police will start enforcing a juvenile curfew Monday, making it illegal for minors to gather in public areas for several hours each night.
The curfew will be in effect from 11 p.m. through 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, the rules will apply from 12 a.m. through 6 a.m.
“It’s a good idea. They’ll probably still try and sneak out, but it’s a good idea for stopping crime and all that,” said Tiffany Fair, whose 10-year-old son, Jamari Tillman was shot in the leg in Liberty City earlier this month.
According to information provided by the city, police can ask anyone they suspect of breaking curfew for personal identification. Anyone found to be in violation will be issued a citation and taken home or to a holding facility. The parents of teens with three offenses can be fined up to $500.
Police said the curfew is intended to keep minors safe and to “stop minors from loitering and engaging in potentially criminal behavior.” Some circumstances are exempt from the rules, including:
- Traveling home from work without stopping on the way back to their place of residence
- Traveling to another state
- Running an errand with a written note from a parent
- Traveling in an emergency situation that requires prompt action to prevent bodily harm or the loss of life
- Those accompanied by an adult age 21 or older
- Attending an official school or religious event
- Standing on the sidewalk of their own residence
- Returning from an event that began before 10 p.m.
- Those who are legally married
- Those who are homeless or living in a halfway home
The juvenile curfew was first created in 1994, but wasn’t heavily enforced until 2010 when crime increased in the area. Five years later, Miami police want to reinforce the curfew to keep children and the community safe.
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