Manhattan Beach Passes Truancy Law

The Manhattan Beach City Council passed an ordinance last week that allows police officers to cite students under 18 who are cutting class from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The new law goes into effect July 4.

Manhattan Beach is following Redondo Beach, Torrance, Gardena and Hawthorne, which have had similar laws for years. Manhattan Beach police were afraid that students from other South Bay cities would flock to their town as a haven from the truancy laws in surrounding cities. An officer can cite a truant student to appear in Juvenile Traffic Court. A judge can fine the student up to $500 or assign the student to community work.