A report on the public hearing held by the Harris County Juvenile Curfew Review Committee, 29 August 2007, Harris County, Texas
The Harris County Juvenile Curfew Review Committee was formed to research the need for the curfew and will make its recommendation to the Harris County Commissioners Court within a few days. The Court is scheduled to vote on the curfew at its September 11th session, though that vote could be delayed if more information is needed before voting. Currently, the ordinance includes a night-time curfew only, from midnight to 6 a.m. The District Attorney’s office is recommending that the curfew be expanded to cover the hours between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
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Law enforcement officials want a daytime curfew, so that they can have probable cause to stop young people who are not in class during school hours. At this time, police officers report that many young people claim to be home-schoolers when stopped, leaving the police officer with no justifiable reason to inquire further about the young person’s activities. According to the District Attorney, many daytime home burglaries are committed by those under the age of 17. It is law enforcement’s hope that a daytime curfew will allow police officers to get many young burglars off the streets before they are able to commit crimes.
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About 35 to 40 people attended the public hearing. Eight of them, all home-schoolers, spoke in opposition to the extended curfew, none in support.
Information on daytime curfews is at:
- NewsComm: Texas daytime curfew challenged
- HEM: Curfews and Homeschoolers
- HEM: Nighttime Curfews or You Wanna Do What to my Kid?
- Virginia Homeschoolers: Eliminating Daytime Curfews
- Libertarian Rock: Curfews
- St. Petersburg Times (Florida): Court says no to cities’ curfews
- Home Education.org, UK, Day Time Curfews
Hat tips to the folks on HEM-Networking, Susan, Helen (of our fair magazine), Mary, Stephanie, and Terri.
posted by Valerie
HEM
Helen
Tracy
mark
marynix
ann-lahrson-fisher
valerie
sandi
david
Some great information came from the HEM Networking list and my hat is also off to all who supplied links. It’s appalling to think U.S. citizens would tolerate this let alone homeschoolers. Most of these ordanances pass unbeknown to the city’s citizens. I’m getting the feeling daytime curfews are not as popular as they once were but I have no numbers to support this.
No to ID’s for our kids!
em