LA HABRA : Council Puts Teeth in Curfew Ordinance

In an attempt to deter juvenile delinquency, the City Council has toughened an ordinance that imposes a citywide 10 p.m. curfew on minors.

Under an amended law council members adopted last week, parents of anyone younger than 18 who is out between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. can be fined $40.

La Habra has had the curfew ordinance in place since 1945, but police never enforced it, according to Capt. John Rees and City Manager Lee Risner.

Now police can make parents pay for their children’s misbehavior, Rees said.

“The first time we see junior (out past curfew), we make mom and dad aware of the situation by giving them a pamphlet explaining the whole thing,” he said, adding that police will hold minors at the scene, or take them home or to the Police Department to release them to their parents or guardian. “The second time we catch junior or juniorette, mommy and daddy are responsible for (a portion of) our cost.”

Some youths Monday reacted negatively to word of the ordinance, saying it takes away their right to “hang out” with friends.

“I think (the city is) trying to do something about the problem with kids causing trouble at night,” said Melissa Huckeba, 16, a junior at La Habra High School. “But a lot of kids don’t have money and the way we have fun is by hanging out and talking. Why should we or our parents be punished for doing something that isn’t even wrong?”

Not all minors who break curfew will be punished, however.

Rees said those who are on the streets because they are on their way home or to the store or running an errand for their parents will not be cited.

“Basically, we wanted to make it unlawful for a kid to be out late at night doing nothing--just hanging out,” he said.