by Stephanie Costello

Created on: November 19, 2007

Curfew laws have been in place since I was a child. Are they effective? Most cities agree they are very effective. Are curfew laws fair? Not only are they unfair; they are unconstitutional and violate the rights of our kids and their parents.

I live in a quaint little desert town with a teen population who is bored beyond tears. The city refuses to allow any kind of youth center or all ages pool hall/arcade where young people can gather for safe fellowship. As a result, our town is over teeming with under aged drinkers and drug users; and yes, juvenile offenders. Our town strictly enforces a curfew for teens under 18 in an effort to curb the wild bunches and cut down on juvenile crime. I haven't seen any indication of its effectiveness; but since I'm not involved in law enforcement or on the city council, I wouldn't pay more than the usual attention. What I can tell you is this: Nobody wins when the positive results are gained from a law having a negative impact on the citizens whose first amendment rights are being violated in favor of it. Which, in effect is nearly everyone of all ages by some degree.

In the case of juvenile curfew, the end does not justify the means. Curfew is discriminatory, prejudicial, and based on negative stereotypes. This law also takes a parents right to raise children as they see fit, away from them and gives it to state and government authorities. I cannot even send my daughter to the store if I am unable to go at night because the curfew law gives the police "probable cause" and she could be subjected to cruel and unnecessary harassment. Not to mention the fact that even the stores will not allow a youth to make a purchase for any reason, after 10 PM. If that isn't the height of stupidity, I surely don't know what is. I can't help but wonder how a teen mother can cope with these limitations. Or how a chronically ill parent gets along when she cannot even send her son to the store for medicine after 10 PM in an emergency.

A child who is 16 can drive a motor vehicle. He or she can become a parent, or obtain birth control much younger than that, if need be. A pregnant teen even has the right to obtain an abortion without parental knowledge or consent. He can also be tried for murder as an adult at any age if the crime is particularly heinous. Now with all of this; I am supposed to believe that it's logical to impose a curfew on kids who, in all other aspects of life are being given the privilege of adults? And by the way, in case you're

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