Curfew continues for youth during football season
Published 12:00 am Friday, August 15, 2003
LEONARD GRAY-Staff Reporter
LAPLACE – Curfews will remain in effect throughout the River Parishes, even as football season is right around the corner.
Capt. Michael Tregre said he was surprised at the proscribed hours. He thought, as many do, that on Friday and Saturday nights, juveniles can stay out later.
Not according to St. John Parish Ordinance 16:1, which states: “It shall be unlawful for the parent, guardian or other person having the care and custody of a minor under the age of 17 years to permit such minor to loiter, wander, stroll, drive any motor vehicle, or play in or upon public streets, highway, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, public buildings, bus stations, places of amusements and entertainment, vacant lots or other unsupervised places between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., seven days a week.
If caught, the parent is charged and could face up to 10 days in jail and a $100 fine.
An exception is if the child has been attending an adult supervised function, such as a football or basketball game, or similar activity. Once the activity is ended, though, the minor must immediately and directly go home “after the lapse of a reasonable time.”
Tregre said a popular pastime is for juveniles to gather in the midst of a cane field, hidden by the cane growth, to illegally share in a keg of beer and engage in other illegal activities.
However, he said, “We have ways of finding out about this.”
Similarly in St. Charles Parish, the same provisions apply in Section 14-2 of the Code of Ordinances, again with the curfew hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
If caught, the parent is charged and could face up to 10 days in jail and a $100 fine.
St. James Parish is a bit more relaxed, according to Article II, Sec. 78-36 in their Code of Ordinances, with curfew hours of 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., and lists several restrictions, exemptions and definitions.
Also, any place of entertainment or amusement which continues to host minors after curfew could face a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $100 fine.
