What do you think of a curfew law on teens....................?

Question

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Answer 1

I say kill the parents for letting them stay out so late, Oh wait that doesn't solve the problem. OK sterilize unfit parents, then allow no mother without a job to have babies

Answer 2

I guess, here in New York many people would agree that a curfew is needed. I have never been in favor of "mass punishment" and that is how it would be perceived by teenagers. I retired from the School Safety Division of the NYPD. I saw the best and the worst of today's teenagers. When we arrested one of their little darlings for assault or weapons possession or robbery or any other crime irate Mothers would show up and claim Police Brutality and then some bleeding heart lawyer would take the case and sue the City for whatever. Problem is That Mother and the lawyer forgot that the little darling just robbed or stabbed some kid in the school. I say all of that to say this. Some teenagers are out of control and some are really great kids. How do we impose a blanket curfew that effects the good as well as the bad. I think that maybe the curfew should be imposed on teens with a criminal record and that Parents should be held responsible for the acts of their criminal kids. Problem with my solution is that now the parents ( of the criminal kids ) would just have another excuse to claim "profiling" if their kids are stopped and questioned. Sounds like a "Catch 22" situation to me.

Answer 3

Curfew laws are good IF they are enforced. Some parents don't have enough common sense to care about what time their kids get home, just as long as they keep out of their hair.
Of the kids that are out past curfew, a majority of them will be in trouble of some sort and it makes it easier to identify where and who to keep an eye on. I used to break curfew just because it was a rule. If you want to break that one, there are a lot more interesting things to do beyond that.

Answer 4

Well, most parents are not taking care to instill the discipline necessary to keep their children from drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, violence, etc. And our streets have become a war zone in most major cities, inviting teens to either conform and live a life of crime and probably die or be sent to prison, or be subjected to the real possibility of dying at the hands of a gang member, a pervert, or some other malignant person. Therefore, it's my opinion that yes, since parents have allowed this dangerous situation to grow and get out of control, then the government really has no choice but to step in and pass curfew laws; maybe this would shame parents into doing something constructive with their children instead of worrying about the next ballgame, or the upcoming couple's dance, or going out to have a "drink" together, or having a drug party in their home, and etc...

But I don't believe parents would be shamed in this modern neo-liberal day and age; they're more concerned about their own lives to the sickening neglect of their children.

Answer 5

My experience with curfew laws in 4 different counties are that they work but have their drawbacks. There are loopholes like they can be in a car returning or going to work, or can be in a the company of an adult, or usually have no enforcement teeth. As a tool it is great because I can stop a car now to check a driver's age or even a passenger's. Once stopped I have a foot in the door for other things. Usually it only deters the kids who wouldn't normally be out doing things they shouldn't anyway. A kid determined to be a crook it wouldn't bother at all.

Answer 6

As a teenager, I think it's a great idea. We had one where I was growing up, but it was OK to be out if we were with adults (our parents, etc.) It saved me from getting into a LOT of trouble.

I think that the teenagers who think it's a BAD idea are the ones who are generally causing there to be a need for one. There's a lot of gang activities and a lot of other bad things that happen at night, and parents these days often aren't responsible enough to take care of their children.

The curfew isn't really about the government parenting the teen. It's about the government protecting the average ctizens FROM the teens.

Just because a parent doesn't want to take responsibility for their child doesn't mean I should have somebody throwing rocks at my car when I drive home at midnight (had that happen), or that I should have to worry about leaving my car in a parking lot because there's a teen running around keying cars.

Most SERIOUS criminals are adults, but teenagers do the petty crap like that. It's expensive to fix, and it's dumb. And they typically do it at night, because it's easier to stay hidden.

Answer 7

Honestly? when I was a teenager I thought it was a bad idea.

Now, almost 30 years later, I see the appeal.

So I'm not objective!

But I do see that it may be an overly broad way to deal with a problem. If an adult is doing something wrong, the police arrest that adult. They don't tell ALL adults to get home at a certain hour.

Yes, minors may have less life experience than adults - minors are not allowed to enter into contracts, etc. because we think they do not have the experience to understand yet - but the right balance must be struck.

And the parents shouldn't depend on the law to do their job for them.

Answer 8

I live in a major city, and here, a curfew law on teens is necessary, because there is a lot of gang activity and other nasty stuff after dark in some neighborhoods, and sometimes it bleeds into other areas, and I'd rather have their "freedom curtailed", and have them both be safe FROM the gangs, and not be a MEMBER of the gangs, than have them be able to go around at night, and someday have to go to the morgue and see a gang tattoo, jacket or other sign on the dead body of my child.

Answer 9

It's a shame, that we have to resort to this, because it should be the parent's responsibility, but there are a lot of irresponsible parents out there. And not only that, but there are ways that adolescents can get out late at night (by sneaking out) without the parents knowing it. And at that age, they are curious and looking for fun, leading to a lot of trouble sometimes. There are laws like this in effect where I live, in the state of Missouri, and EVEN THOUGH I got busted from the Police when I was 15 years old and out at 3am, takin' to jail, and had to go through a juvenile counseling program because of it, NOW that I'm older and more responsible, I realize that this law is much needed. I thank the cops that straightened me out when I was younger, because I probably wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for that event in my life. Now, ironically, I have worked for that "same" Police Dept. that this situation happened with. Image that!!!

By the way, I think questions like this should be off-limits to adolescents, because they have a one track mind, without the knowledge and responsibility to answer a question like this.

Answer 10

Great question..if there was a curfew when I was a teen, maybe I wouldn't have been in so much trouble with drinking etc. But I do have to say, that I still would have did it, just been home in time

Answer 11

Yes, with certain exceptions. Those would be for special events, like school ball games(if they got over late), proms, and older teens coming from a job. This law should be well thought out, and not a "knee jerk" reaction, to something that happens.