Cypress Presses On With Daytime Youth Curfew

Despite protests by some residents, the City Council on Monday refused to table a daytime curfew for school-age youths.

The council instead scheduled a third hearing on the curfew for Oct. 28.

Council members Tom Carroll and Mary Ann Jones vigorously opposed more discussion of the proposal, saying the community obviously did not want it and that it had constitutional problems.

“Not one person in Cypress has come forward to speak for this curfew,” Carroll said. “What more do you need to get the sentiment of the community?”

But Mayor Walter K. Bowman and Councilwomen Cecilia L. Age and Gail H. Kerry argued that more information is needed.

The curfew, which has proved to be a controversial issue in several Orange County cities, allows police to give citations to 6- to 18-year-olds who are “in any public place” with “no lawful excuse” to be out of school. Parents of truants also may be cited. Violators can be fined as much as $100 per citation.

The curfew has been recommended by a coalition of police and prosecutors in Orange County, who contend it will reduce crime.

Several people who addressed the Cypress council contended that the curfew would create a “Hitler state” or “big brother” program.

Parent Linda Cabrera noted that Police Chief Daryl Wicker estimated that 3% of the high school and junior high school students are truant at any given time.

“With such a small problem, why are we penalizing the parents?” she asked.

City Attorney John E. Cavanaugh told the council he believes the proposal is unconstitutional. “I have serious questions about the enforcement,” he said.

But Wicker, who supports the curfew, said it would simplify the process for police dealing with truants, and that the existing state law is unwieldy.

No one in the audience spoke for the proposed curfew.

“It seems that Cypress is considering something that’s not a problem,” said Kathy Simcox, a parent and Cypress resident. Another parent, Kathy LaRose, said: “I don’t want my daughter to have carry [identification] papers. I think we’re taking our children’s freedoms away.”

La Habra and Seal Beach are the only Orange County cities that have passed the ordinance. Villa Park rejected it, San Clemente decided not to consider it, and many other cities still are discussing it.