Businesses and parents to be held responsible

The Fayetteville City Council responded to concerns over juvenile loitering by voting unanimously June 5 to institute a curfew affecting juveniles, parents and businesses.

Curfew hours will be 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and midnight until 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Also in the ordinance is the provision making it unlawful for any owner, operator or employee of a business to knowingly allow a minor to be in or on the premises of a business between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. any day of the week.

Chief Steve Heaton said police have been experiencing problems with juveniles being left unattended late at night at different businesses in the city.

In many instances, he said, officers are having repeated contacts with juveniles wandering around areas in the city without adult or parental supervision.

Among those areas cited were the bowling lanes and the two theaters, all on Ga. Highway 85.

Exceptions to the ordinance will exist for those under age 18 in cases such as those individuals who are married or not under the control or care of a parent or guardian.

The aim of the ordinance is not to cite curfew violations to juveniles waiting a short amount of time to be picked up by a parent after a movie or bowling. Heaton said it is meant to address the loitering and wandering that has also occurred in public places and business settings. Historically, police have not always had the support of parents in this area, he added.

First offenders will be issued a citation, Heaton said, while a second offense will require that parents go before the city court judge. The judge will determine the fine amount, he said.

Heaton said the ordinance will allow the police department to address repeated violations and will establish penalties for parents who allow their children to be out late at night unattended or in the care of a responsible adult.

He said officers will not issue a citation or make an arrest unless the officer reasonably believes an offense had occurred.

Procedurally, the ordinance states, officers will ask the person in question their age and reason for being in the public place.

Fayetteville Police arrested 32 juveniles last year on state curfew violations. State violations differ from the new ordinance in two ways. State curfew times run from midnight until 5 a.m. and provide for no parental or business penalties.