Lancaster Council Expected to Reinstate Teen-Agers’ 10 p.m. Curfew : Laws: Officials who rewrote an ordinance that a judge ruled ‘too vague’ forgot to include references to those under 18.

Lancaster officials who inadvertently left out a curfew for minors when they amended a loitering ordinance last November are expected Monday to reinstate a 10 p.m. curfew for those under the age of 18.

City officials admit they made a mistake when they omitted all references to loitering teen-agers when they rewrote the original ordinance to comply with a Municipal Court judge’s ruling that said the prohibitions against loitering were too vague.

The judge made the ruling after citations were issued to a crowd of young adults who had gathered at the Albertson’s shopping center in Lancaster in the fall of 1990.

In his Dec. 27, 1990, ruling, Antelope Valley Municipal Judge Frank Jackson said the vague language of the prior ordinance could even have been used to cite shoppers.

Sheriff’s Lt. Tom Pigott said Friday that the newest version of the ordinance is “just to tie up loose ends” and that there are no current problems with loitering teens.

But Lancaster’s City Atty. David McEwen has asked the City Council to declare it an urgency item, which would make it take effect immediately upon passage.

Usually city ordinance revisions are read at two council meetings. The measure then goes into effect 30 days later.

City Councilman Arnie Rodio called the revised ordinance necessary but said he plans to question the need to vote on it as an urgency item.

The new curfew will make it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to stand idly, or linger between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in any public place.

Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles and other many other cities have 10 p.m. curfews for minors, but they are not vigorously enforced.

Los Angeles Police Lt. Mike Schwehr said most cities generally do not enforce curfews unless there are problems with vandalism, crime or cruising.

Lancaster’s curfew will provide for some exceptions.

Among those are minors who are responding to an emergency, working or attending athletic, entertainment or religious events.