By Michael Howell
Stevensville Police Chief James Marble has asked the Town Council to consider changing the hours of curfew to get underage children off the streets a little earlier in the evening to possibly help curb vandalism in the community.
The Town already has a curfew and currently anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to be on the streets or in any public place unaccompanied by a parent, legal guardian or adultbetween the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and between 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Although there is no jail time authorized by the curfew, there are fines allowed, a warning or a $40 fine for a minor’s first offense, and up to $100 for a subsequent offense and up to a $500 fine for the parent or adult legal guardian of the offending minor. There are several exceptions allowed for minors who work late, or are returning from religious or school activities, or with written permission from a parent or guardian.
Councilor Jim Crews expressed disagreement with any curfew for the older kids.
“I have a problem with that once you turn seventeen,” said Councilor Jim Crews. “At that age you are old enough to join the military, old enough to die for your country, but you are telling me I can’t walk the streets.”
Councilor Bill Perrin, who had perused a statistical handbook on curfews, said that he did not know the organizations involved in publishing the handbook. He also noted that the statistics were strictly about violent crimes. He said what the literature showed was that most crimes occur right after school. He said that some communities have tried to enact daytime curfews in response to these statistics but he was not sure how effective that was. He said that according to the literature the rationale for curfews seems to make sense but that they have been found to be ineffective.
Perrin said some youth advocacy groups oppose curfews but that they are popular with the general public because they are “perceived” as being effective. He said some curfews have been successfully challenged in court.
“But curfews are still popular with the public even though there is no evidence that they work,” he said.
Town employee Ed Sutherlin said that most of the vandalism in the town parks is done in the afternoon between 4 and 7 p.m. He said a lot of it happens right after the organized sports, like soccer and baseball, when kids haven’t been picked up yet by their parents.
“It’s just kids being kids, but they do create some damage,” he said. “When there are no kids there, then nothing’s happening.” He said usually late at night there is nobody there, the gates are locked, and the police do patrol the area.
“If you could fine the parents for not taking care of their kids that might be better than a curfew, but I don’t know if that will work,” said Sutherlin.
Perrin said that some kids are out on the streets because that’s the best place for them. He said some kids don’t have a good home life and are better off getting out of the house.
Audience member Kim French said, “I know what you are saying about those children that don’t have a home. But when they get helped out they are the first to do your dishes, the first to do your laundry and they are not the ones out vandalizing. It’s been my experience that it’s the children who are handed everything and never get told no who get the pleasure of destroying other people’s property.”
Crews said, “The only time I had trouble as a kid is when I had nothing to do. If I had something to do I was a pretty good kid. But if I had nothing to do, I would find something to do and I think that’s what happens if somebody is egging you on. Rather than a curfew I think we as a community need to look at more things to occupy our kids after school.”
Crews said that kids around 13 years of age need looking after, “but after that they are almost an adult.”
“In fact,” said Crews, “I believe when you get a driver’s license you are an adult, you take on adult responsibilities at the time and personally, I don’t think a curfew should apply to an adult.”
Councilor Tim Hunter said that a curfew gave some parents leverage with their children when they could say getting home early was the law and violating it could mean real trouble.
French said she didn’t need any leverage as a parent.
“I don’t need leverage,” said French. “I will whip their ass if I have to. I don’t agree with a curfew. There are other leverages for a parent to use than a curfew.”
Audience member Clayton Floyd said that, after thinking about it, he could find no good reason for a curfew. He said more officers would be needed to enforce it.
“I think it provides the police department a reason to stop a child for no other reason than the curfew,” said Floyd. “I think the police department needs to be very careful about stopping people and they better have probable cause when they do.
“At some point, adolescent or not, it’s going to catch up with the department,” said Floyd. “We need to solve the issue another way.” He said that most vandalism happened in the dark and that more lighting would help more than a curfew.
It was decided to have Police Chief James Marble, who was unable to attend the meeting, come to the next meeting and bring some local statistics about vandalism for the Council to consider.
Fire Chief Jeff Motley told the Council that the month of October was Fire Prevention Month and that this week was Fire Prevention Week. Volunteer firemen would be going to the schools to educate K-6 students on fire prevention. He also told them that October was the month that open burning was allowed in town. He said residents could burn only the debris that is naturally produced on their property like limbs and leaves, but no construction materials or any garbage. He said town residents could burn during October whether there was open burning allowed in the county or not. He said no permission was needed from the county or the local fire department.
Some changes in the town’s purchasing policy were discussed but no decision was made. The matter was tabled so that the Mayor and Councilor Robin Holcomb could participate. Both were absent from the meeting.
The Council approved a change order on the water project that would add $12,000 to the cost of the maintenance and improvement project at the town’s water reservoir. The change was due to the condition of the reservoir roof and the need to use insulation board under the roof covering.
The Council also discussed possible changes in the Personnel Policy. This issue was also tabled until the next meeting.