San Gabriel Valley : PENALTIES FOR TRUANTS
Students who cut class in Pasadena may soon face court fines or community service, and repeat offenders may have their driver’s licenses suspended under a law tentatively approved Monday by the City Council.
Pasadena is the latest Southern California city to enact a law aimed at keeping children in school.
Beginning in March, it will allow city and school police officers to cite those under 18 who are discovered unsupervised between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on school days.
The citation will require the truant to appear before a juvenile traffic court judge, who can fine offenders up to $150, order them to do 27 hours of community service or remand them to the school district’s truancy program.
“It’s one of the few tools of any leverage,” said Councilman William Crowfoot, a teacher at Pasadena’s Blair High School. “I think we should use it as an opportunity to address why these kids aren’t in school.”
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