Summer break is still upon us and kids are more inclined to stay out later on weekday and weekend nights. However, Baltimore’s Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has pledged to enact a stricter curfew in the city for Baltimore’s youth. The Baltimore City Council has officially passed the measure, but it will not go into effect until August 8, 2014. The curfew is aimed at keeping kids off the street in an attempt to keep children safe and prevent the youth from committing crimes.
It’s almost August 8th, does your child know the new Baltimore Curfew Laws?
Baltimore Criminal Lawyer: What are the curfews?
-
For children under 14:
-Must be indoors by 9:00pm year-round
-
For children ages 14-16:
-Must be indoors by 10:00pm on school nights
-Must be indoors by 11:00pm on weekends and during the summer
-
Daytime curfew:
-Under the age of 16:
-Are not allowed to be in public places from the hours of 7:30am-3:00pm (normal school hours)
However, exceptions to these hours are only when the child is accompanied by a parent, returning from work, or going to a religious or recreational activity.
Baltimore Criminal Lawyer: What has changed?
Currently, children under the age of 17 are allowed to stay out until 11:00pm on weeknights and midnight on the weekends. These measures primarily aim to protect children from violent crime that tends to occur late in the evening.
Baltimore Criminal Lawyer: What will happen to my child if they violate the curfew?
If a child violates the curfew, they can be picked up by police and brought to one of nine centers. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE ARRESTED! The children will be brought to these places and interviewed by officials. The child’s parents will be called and officials will determine if it is safe for the child to go home. If it is not, the child will be released into the custody of Child Protective Services.
Parents could also face sanctions. If a child is picked up for violating curfew, a parent or guardian could face a fine ranging from $30-$500. However, these fines could be waived if the family participates in city-sponsored counseling sessions.
Baltimore Criminal Lawyer: When does the curfew begin?
This new law goes into effect August 8, 2014. As always, if you need legal representation please contact us here. We offer a free one-hour consultation regarding your case and how we can help. Se hablamos Español.