STANTON : Curfew Ordinance Given Initial OK

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously gave preliminary approval to an ordinance forbidding youths under age 18 to “loiter” on public streets from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Councilman Sal Sapien said the curfew ordinance, which will face a final vote Nov. 23, would give police power to sweep graffiti vandals and other young troublemakers off the streets.

But Orange County Sheriff’s Capt. Robert Eason said he warned in a confidential memorandum to the council that his small staff would have to lower some other enforcement priorities if they are to patrol thoroughly for curfew violators.

“Driving by and warning someone takes two minutes. Giving out a citation could take 30 minutes,” Eason explained after the meeting. That would take time away from other duties, he said.

The Sheriff’s Department, which provides police service to Stanton, has three or four deputies on duty during the curfew hours, Eason said. For safety reasons, two deputies would normally be needed to give citations at night.

The ordinance would hold parents responsible for their children during curfew hours, and would make it illegal to leave a child under 14 unsupervised, even at home, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Sapien said he wants the curfew to be used mainly in problem situations. “I see it being used when neighbors complain, and when merchants complain about youngsters congregating,” he said.

Sapien said deputies could go to certain neighborhoods to warn young people to keep off the streets at night.

Councilman Harry M. Dotson said he is concerned that if the city targets certain neighborhoods and not others, it could be accused of prejudicial enforcement. “That might be a constitutional violation,” he said.

But City Atty. Thomas W. Allen said the city has the right to target problem areas where young people congregate.