The start of Baltimore’s new youth curfew
Baltimore’s controversial curfew law, one of the strictest in the nation, took effect Friday night with the aim of protecting children.
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- Brandon Wallace, 27, protests by wearing handcuffs before a community meeting with city officials about new youth curfew legislation going into effect on August 8 at the University of Baltimore Law Center in Baltimore Tuesday July 29, 2014. Baltimore, faced with high crime rates, is set to impose one of the strictest U.S. curfews for young people, with the mayor facing residents on Tuesday to explain the new rules. (James Lawler Duggan/Reuters)
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- Police patrol a residential neighborhood in east Baltimore minutes after a curfew law took effect in Baltimore August 8, 2014. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the measure, which took effect on Friday, was aimed at getting children off the streets before they were put in danger. (James Lawler Duggan/Reuters)
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- Protesters demonstrate before a community meeting with city officials about new youth curfew legislation going into effect on August 8 at the University of Baltimore Law Center in Baltimore Tuesday July 29, 2014. Baltimore, faced with high crime rates, is set to impose one of the strictest U.S. curfews for young people, with the mayor facing residents on Tuesday to explain the new rules. (James Lawler Duggan/Reuters)
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- Children play basketball at Collington Square Park less than an hour before a curfew law took effect in Baltimore August 8, 2014. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the measure, which took effect on Friday, was aimed at getting children off the streets before they were put in danger. (James Lawler Duggan/Reuters)
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- Residents walk through Collington Square Park minutes before a curfew law took effect in Baltimore August 8, 2014. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the measure, which took effect on Friday, was aimed at getting children off the streets before they were put in danger. (James Lawler Duggan/Reuters)
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- A police officer stands at the door of a community recreation center in east Baltimore, which is being repurposed as a collection point for children unattended to in public, minutes after a curfew law took effect in Baltimore August 8, 2014. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the measure, which took effect on Friday, was aimed at getting children off the streets before they were put in danger. (James Lawler Duggan/Reuters)
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- Police patrol outside a community recreation center after a curfew law took effect in Baltimore August 8, 2014. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the measure, which took effect on Friday, was aimed at getting children off the streets before they were put in danger. (James Lawler Duggan/Reuters)
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- Children play on swings at Collington Square Park an hour before a curfew law took effect in Baltimore August 8, 2014. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the measure, which took effect on Friday, was aimed at getting children off the streets before they were put in danger. (James Lawler Duggan/Reuters)
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- An 11-year-old boy that did not want to talk to the media crosses the street in East Baltimore just two minutes before the 9pm Baltimore City curfew for youth. (Al Drago/Baltimore Sun)
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- Amyra Carr, 10, turns the biker around with Isaiah Turner, 8, as they circle the block one more time before the 9pm curfew for youth in Baltimore City. (Al Drago/Baltimore Sun)
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- Isaiah Turner, 8, hugs Amyra Carr, 10, as she begins to sing outside of their home in West Baltimore before the 9pm curfew for youth in Baltimore City. (Al Drago/Baltimore Sun)
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- Shakiera Thompson, 10, looks to the sky as a police helicopter shines its light through the street as she stands on the porch with Myketa Wills, 19, right, and her brother Jordan Wills, 13, center, before the 9pm curfew for youth in Baltimore City. (Al Drago/Baltimore Sun)
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- Amyra Carr, 10, sings outside of her home in West Baltimore alongside Nicole Williams, center, her mother, Kelly Carr, right, and their cat Oreo, before the 9pm curfew for youth in Baltimore City. (Al Drago/Baltimore Sun)
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- An 11-year-old boy crosses the street in East Baltimore just two minutes before the 9pm Baltimore City curfew for youth. (Al Drago/Baltimore Sun)
The city became a police state to some and a place that is finally cracking down on problem youths to others. For months, the proposal to change the curfew law was met with heated discussions at community meetings, letters to the editor in favor of the changes and dissenting letters against them.
Under the city’s previous curfew, unchaperoned children under 17 had to be home by 11 p.m. during the week and midnight on weekends. On Friday that changed to 9 p.m. for children under 14. Ages 14 to 16 are required to be home by 10 on school nights and 11 p.m. on weekends.
If a parent or guardian is with them, children can be out as long as they want. School, work, religious and recreational activities are excluded. Parents of children found in violation could face fines of between $30 and $500 — but officials say those could be waived under certain conditions. – Justin George, The Baltimore Sun
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rickygee
Aug 10, 2014 @ 21:55:38
Say, I have a thought. If we are so bereft of modern solutions that we are going to bring back social engineering ideas from the 1950s, how about we also bring back policies that strengthened the middle class and not just the corporate bottom line? Perhaps a return to 1950-level corporate tax rates? Job security? Pensions? Oh who am I kidding?! Just criminalize the poor kids. That’s the ticket! (PS: I want to be the Thimble and dibs on Marvin Gardens)