Curfew Ordinance and Its Effect on Youths

It is imperative to Santa Monica’s residents, business people and visitors that Santa Monica enact a meaningful curfew ordinance quickly.

For years, the 3rd Street commercial area was in decline. The area was becoming blighted, and businesses were closing down.

With the active efforts and support of the business community and Councilman Dennis Zane, the area was transformed into a showcase for all to be proud of and enjoy. Businesses returned, and so did shoppers and visitors.

Unfortunately, there was insufficient concern directed at planning how many establishments should be able to sell alcohol. The Third Street Promenade area now has the highest concentration of such businesses in the city.

The Police Department has deployed additional officers to protect the public and businesses. Several officers have unfortunately been injured when confronted with individuals that were intoxicated. The theaters provide a varied selection of films that attract many people, including some gang members. While some gang members obey the law, others, many of them under 18, are aggressive and disruptive. Other juveniles also frequent the area.

In order to stop the area from gaining a negative reputation, it is important to have a curfew law that the officers can use when necessary. Certainly, no one wants to discourage youths from frequenting the area and enjoying it. However, those who may not be able to control their impulses must be lawfully and effectively thwarted.

The mere threat of a curfew arrest may be sufficient to cause a juvenile to better behave. In cases where a juvenile is uncooperative or is a problem, the curfew law would provide a means to effectively deal with them without necessarily charging them with a penal-code violation. Thus, any resulting record would merely be for curfew rather than a violation of state law that is much more severe.

The curfew law will also provide officers an effective tool to intervene with unruly youths before they commit a serious crime.

The public supporting enactment of the curfew laws should contact the City Council office urging its adoption.

WILLIAM S. BROWN

Chairman, Santa Monica Police Officers’ Assn.