Politics & Government
Proposed County Youth Curfew Draws Support, Criticism
Parents and teenagers in North Potomac and Darnestown have mixed reactions to the proposed county curfew for teenagers younger than 18.
Reaction to the proposed teen curfew in Montgomery County appears to be mixed among teenagers and parents in the area.
In a recent unscientific survey of teens and parents at the Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, or “Rio,” some teens said they thought the curfew for teenagers younger than 18 would be unreasonable and discriminatory. Others said they did not have a problem with a curfew because of the rules that are already imposed on them by their parents.
James Hurst, 17, a junior at Wootton High School, said the curfew is unfair to teenagers.
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“It punishes good kids just for hanging out with friends,” Hurst said.
He added that it’s also unfair to force the parents of kids out too late to attend parenting classes. According to the , a court could require a parent to complete a parenting course after a conviction for violating the curfew.
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Hurst’s mother Teri said she would support a curfew if it were an hour later on weeknights and weekends. The proposed times for enforcement of the curfew are 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. during weekdays and midnight to 5 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Sarah McDonald, 14, said that she does not think teenagers should be arrested for being out past 11 p.m. on weeknights. Under the proposal, young people found breaking the curfew would be taken to the nearest police station, where their parents would be called.
Monica Ighani, 14, said she sees good and bad in approving the curfew. She said the area would be safer but that older kids deserve to be out with their friends past the hours of the curfew.
Some local teenagers, though, already have to be home before the curfew hours would begin, so they would be unaffected by it anyway.
Dario Terzic, 15, has to be home by 10 p.m. on weeknights.
Terzic’s friend, Alex Parakisekov, also 15, lives just a few blocks from Washingtonian Center and said he has seen fights break out there after 1 or 2 a.m.
Mike Whitehurst, whose son graduated in June from Quince Orchard High School, whole-heartedly supports a curfew.
“Nothing good happens after midnight,” Whitehurst said.
Rene Shaw, whose kids are 13 and 16 and attend Wootton High School, said the times proposed seem reasonable and age-appropriate.
Next steps: The curfew proposal is now headed to the Montgomery County Council's Public Safety Committee on Sept. 15.
What do you think about the proposed curfew? Share your thoughts below in the comments area.