Police to crack down on curfew

CROWLEY – Fall is a busy time of year – football season, new school year, holidays approaching. Crowley Police, as well, have been quite busy at the beginning of the fall season.
“We have been having a high volume of calls from people reporting juveniles walking the streets at all hours of the night, even at 1:00 to 2:00 a.m., and parents are sometimes not even aware they have left,” stated Chief K.P. Gibson of the Crowley Police Department.
According to the City of Crowley Ordinance Book Section 7-30, “It shall be unlawful for any unemancipated child under seventeen (17) years of age to travel, loiter wander, stroll or play in or upon any public street, highway, road, alley, park, place of amusement and entertainment, building, vacant lot or other unsupervised place in the city as follows:
CURFEW
10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays during the months of September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May;
10:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays during the months of June, July, and August;
Between 8:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. weekdays during the school term, for anyone under the age of sixteen (16) and over the age of seven (7) years;
The exception to this ordinance is only if the child is with a parent, tutor, or other responsible adult or unless the child is doing an emergency errand or has written permission from a parent or guardian to be in a place during curfew hours. Also, when leaving a school-sponsored event, the ordinance will allow a reasonable amount of time for the child to return safely home from each event. In addition, during the International Rice Festival, the curfew shall be between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Thursday night and 12:00 midnight to 5:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Chief Gibson continues, “Our officers will be stepping up their enforcements of this ordinance. Undercover operations are being planned to address the curfew ordinance. Along with the issue of it being a law in our city, parents must realize that it is also a safety issue for children to be out on the roadways during late hours. With the ongoing investigations of agencies around us, we have become extremely alert, especially when it comes to our children. Our strict enforcement of this ordinance will serve to hopefully prevent the same situation from happening in our city.”
Chief Gibson also pointed out that parents need to be aware of the special section regarding school time curfew. “During the school year in the City of Crowley, juveniles are not allowed outside between the hours of 8:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Whether the child is at home with a sickness, suspended or home-schooled, parents need to be aware that they are not allowed on the streets of the City of Crowley without a responsible adult during school hours.” Again, Chief Gibson reminds that this is not only for enforcement but also for safety. “If a child is supposed to be home while a parent is at work, but they are instead walking on the streets, should the unthinkable happen, the parent is unaware of where the child is, but must rely on good faith, assuming the child was at home where they were supposed to be.”
Chief Gibson encourages any parent who may have questions regarding this ordinance to please call or come by the Crowley Police Department to speak with an officer. The phone number is: (337) 783-1234.