Culver City Plans to Revise Law on Curfew for Minors

The Culver City Council this week directed the city attorney to amend the city’s curfew ordinance for minors to conform with changes made recently in similar laws in Los Angeles and unincorporated county areas.

A 10 p.m. curfew for youths under 18 will remain unchanged, according to City Atty. Joe Pannone, who said some exceptions will be allowed, such as when minors “are returning directly home from legitimate evening entertainment, or, attending a lawful trade, business or occupation.”

Pannone said the revised ordinance is expected to be brought before the council Jan. 9.

Police officials said a curfew is needed to prevent young people from loitering at night and recently has been used as a tool in fighting gang violence.

Last summer, the Los Angeles City Council modified a similar curfew law, and a pilot project aimed at dispersing loitering youths has resulted in about 300 youths being taken into custody for curfew violations. None were prosecuted, officials said, although about 30 were placed on informal probation.

The County Board of Supervisors last month amended its curfew law after an appeals court decision in June struck down a similarly worded ordinance in Long Beach because it was too vague. The court said the law must state specific exceptions when minors can be out after 10 p.m.

Unincorporated county areas in the Westside affected by the law include Marina del Rey, Ladera Heights and Baldwin Hills.

Dale Jones, Culver City’s chief administrative officer, said in a staff report to the council that the ordinance should be rewritten “in order to be consistent so as to not create a curfew-free zone in Culver City.”

Officials in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood said their ordinances already state specific exceptions to the curfew, and there are no immediate plans to revise the laws.

Santa Monica and Beverly Hills both have 10 p.m. curfews for youths under 18.

West Hollywood, however, has a midnight curfew for minors. The curfew had been 1 a.m., according to Jack Bollen, the city’s public safety coordinator, but in January the City Council rolled back the curfew one hour to show support for Los Angeles’ effort in combatting gang violence.