Curfews

[nursesharon]

 Our town is looking at having a curfew due to some kids being out late and raising hell.  I am wondering if anyone lives in a town that has a curfew.  If not, what time do you tell your kids to be home?  If your town does have a curfew, then what time?  What do you think of a town enforcing a curfew?

[hopealways4019]

My town don't have one,but its a fantastic idea. Those under 18, should be in by 10 weekdays

[Jaxmomof2600]

Almost all towns do have a curfew law they just don't enforce it.  Our town only seems to do anything around halloween.

[Not_A_Native]

I'm against it.  This is something that should be up to the parents, not the government (which after all, is what the "community" is).

My kid dances til 9 or 9:30 several nights a week. There are times they meet with other kids (after that, and after other kids are done with THEIR activities) to study, work on group projects, and so on.  I don't drive her - she's 17, and a junior in high school.  What about the kids who are working til 10 or 11 at night?  I did that in high school most nights.

I'm strongly against curfews in general.  My kid has to be home at varying times, depending on what she's doing and who she's with.  That was the same with all of my kids.  My son (the oldest) used to go night skiing - he'd go to the slopes at 5, stay til 10, and then drive home (about 40 miles).  Sometimes they even <gasp> got something to eat on the way home!  My middle one had a tighter leash, as she had more "questionable" friends.

Enforce the laws that exist (loitering, vandalism, theft) and don't punish the good kids for the bad kids behavior.

[Cindy18]

I think there is one on the books here but only enforced at Halloween time. I think it's a good idea if there is a issue in the area.

[MrsBLB]

I don't think we have one.  I have mine be home by 10 on weekdays, unless something is going for school.  Weekends, it depends on what they're doing.  They will be 17 in May.  

[atlmom2]

We have 11 on weekdays and midnight on weekends.  Also there is a curfew on your license when you get it that is the same, no driving unless you are coming from a school event and have a letter from your parents or coming from work and have a letter in your car from your parents also.  I love it.  I know of kids getting tickets that snuck out of the house to go do mischief.  One kid got caught at 2am saran wrapping a car.  Curfew tickets are not cheap. 

[atlmom2]

IF you lived in a town where teens were constantly doing damage and breaking into homes after midnight you would sure want a curfew.  I think its awesome.  Keeps kids under 18 on the roads after midnight when way too many teens seem to get killed violating curfew.  If they are not on the road they can't get killed  after midnight. 

Quoting Not_A_Native:

I'm against it.  This is something that should be up to the parents, not the government (which after all, is what the "community" is).

My kid dances til 9 or 9:30 several nights a week. There are times they meet with other kids (after that, and after other kids are done with THEIR activities) to study, work on group projects, and so on.  I don't drive her - she's 17, and a junior in high school.  What about the kids who are working til 10 or 11 at night?  I did that in high school most nights.

I'm strongly against curfews in general.  My kid has to be home at varying times, depending on what she's doing and who she's with.  That was the same with all of my kids.  My son (the oldest) used to go night skiing - he'd go to the slopes at 5, stay til 10, and then drive home (about 40 miles).  Sometimes they even got something to eat on the way home!  My middle one had a tighter leash, as she had more "questionable" friends.

Enforce the laws that exist (loitering, vandalism, theft) and don't punish the good kids for the bad kids behavior.

[mumsy2three]

I think our town's curfew is 11pm for minors.

My teen is 18 and we really don't have a curfew for her anymore. Our sons are in elementary school and aren't in town alone so they currently don't have a curfew either.

[nursesharon]

 I have mixed feelings about it myself. 

On one hand, I don't like the idea of the govt. telling me what to do with my kids but I also know that if more parents would actually step up and parent their kids, this probably wouldn't be an issue. 

[Not_A_Native]

Quoting atlmom2:

IF you lived in a town where teens were constantly doing damage and breaking into homes after midnight you would sure want a curfew.  I think its awesome.  Keeps kids under 18 on the roads after midnight when way too many teens seem to get killed violating curfew.  If they are not on the road they can't get killed  after midnight. 

Quoting Not_A_Native:

I'm against it.  This is something that should be up to the parents, not the government (which after all, is what the "community" is).

My kid dances til 9 or 9:30 several nights a week. There are times they meet with other kids (after that, and after other kids are done with THEIR activities) to study, work on group projects, and so on.  I don't drive her - she's 17, and a junior in high school.  What about the kids who are working til 10 or 11 at night?  I did that in high school most nights.

I'm strongly against curfews in general.  My kid has to be home at varying times, depending on what she's doing and who she's with.  That was the same with all of my kids.  My son (the oldest) used to go night skiing - he'd go to the slopes at 5, stay til 10, and then drive home (about 40 miles).  Sometimes they even got something to eat on the way home!  My middle one had a tighter leash, as she had more "questionable" friends.

Enforce the laws that exist (loitering, vandalism, theft) and don't punish the good kids for the bad kids behavior.

 

I did live in a town like that.  The solution isn't to keep kids in per se, it's to enforce the rules.  The vandalism, the burglaries, etc.  Here, I know there are MORE burglaries in the hours between 2:00 and 5:00 pm - when the kids are out of school, yet the parents aren't home from work.  Most of the residents who's homes are being broken into aren't home either - which just makes it easier for the kids.

As for kids getting killed on the road after midnight - well, more of them get killed in auto accidents around here, AGAIN, between 2 and 5 pm.  It's when the kids are unsupervised, doing drugs, drinking, and driving around.  And most of the parents are clueless.