Curfew extended to kids in cars

PARIS -- Minors in cars will no longer be automatically exempted from a curfew if a new ordinance is approved.

The town's curfew policy is being reviewed for the first time since 1994, and the selectboard's Policy Committee has recommended various language changes to bring the law up to date.

The biggest elements of the ordinance, which restrict the night-time movement of children under the age of 18, are essentially unchanged.

Children under the age of 15 are not allowed out past 10 p.m., while children aged 15 to 17 are not allowed out past 11 p.m.

There are a list of exemptions to the curfew outlined in the ordinance. Under the old ordinance, one such exemption was "when the minor is, with parental consent, in a motor vehicle." The new ordinance has no such provision.

Under the ordinance, a child or a parent may be penalized at a rate of $25 for the second offense, with fines for subsequent offenses increasing to a maximum of $100 per offense. The first offense results in a warning.

The ordinance says that "it shall be unlawful for a minor to be or remain in or upon the streets." Minors may not "stay behind," "tarry" or "stay unnecessarily upon the streets," and excepts those who are "using the streets for ordinary or serious purposes such as mere passage or going home."

There are various changes in the list of exemptions between the new ordinance and the old ordinance.

The proposed new ordinance exempts a minor who is accompanied by a parent; accompanied by an adult authorized by a parent; exercising his or her First Amendment rights (but only after, if practicable, notice of this exemption has been served to the town police); necessarily on the streets (only after a parent has communicated the need to the police); returning home by a direct route from school, employment, or a religious or volunteer activity, and/or is authorized by special permit.

Police officers who witness minors violating the curfew ordinance are instructed to escort the minor home and to make sure that the minor enters his or her house.

Minors may occupy the sidewalk directly in front of their home without violating the curfew.

The curfew was first adopted in 1976.