State Curfew Law Draws High Praise

Contending that the control of young people is primarily a parent’s responsibility, Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) on Friday lauded a new state law that will fine parents of curfew violators as much as $250.

The law, signed by Gov. Pete Wilson earlier this week, permits local law enforcement agencies to enforce curfews by transporting minors to the custody of their parents or legal guardians and charging parents a fee to recover the costs.

“Parents in the past didn’t face the question of paying the fine themselves,” said Umberg, who authored Assembly Bill 3797. “This creates an added measure of enforcing the curfew law. Clearly this is not going to cure all our woes . . . but it will help (some) parents.”

The law also will provide financially strapped local governments with a source of money to enforce curfews.

“Most cities and counties are now broke. Now each (one) has a curfew has a tool at their disposal,” Umberg said. “We hope it’s a tool that will be used throughout California.”

Minors will receive a warning citation for their first violation, to be mailed to their parents.

After the second violation, parents will receive a fine equal to the cost of identifying, transporting and detaining minors.

The cost varies from city to city, with some as high as $250. There is no cap on the amount of the fine, but it can be waived if officials determine that parents have made a reasonable effort to exercise control over the minor, according to the law.

Each of Orange County’s 31 cities have a curfew ordinance. Most cities’ curfews run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and apply to those who are 17 years and younger.

Under existing laws, organized activities, such as sports games, and establishments like movies theaters and amusement parks are excluded from most curfews. First-offense fines in Orange County, levied against minors, are $25 to $50.

“The taxpayer is not going to be paying for the cost of apprehending and transporting (curfew violators),” said Supervisor Harriett Wieder, who sponsored the bill. “The bottom line is we’re going to be empowering the community.”

County officials hope that the new law, by encouraging parents to make sure their children are home at night, will also reduce the number of teen-agers caught in the cross-fire of gang activity.

More than one-third of all gang crime occurs between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., said Michael Schumacher, chairman of the Orange County Gang Alliance and the county’s chief probation officer.

“The vast majority of victims are not gang members. They are innocent bystanders, people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.