Lynn cops eye youth curfew

LYNN – Witnessing a spike in the number of children roaming the city’s streets in the wee hours, Lynn police are reminding residents of the local curfew that prohibits those under age 18 from congregating in public places between midnight and 6 a.m.Police Lt. William Sharpe said Thursday the department is bracing for the hot summer months when late-night youth activity tends to rise. “Police have seen an increase in the amount of children aimlessly out and about during late night and early morning hours,” he said, noting that parents and guardians should be aware of the city’s Youth Protection Ordinance.”This ordinance restricts minors, any person under the age of 18, from public places, during the hours of midnight to 6 a.m.”Police are also asking assistance from business owners and managers who have an obligation to cooperate with the youth curfew.According to Sharpe, a case currently before the state Supreme Judicial Court is challenging the constitutionality of curfew ordinances, the majority of which exist in urban areas. As he put it, those in opposition premise their objection on equal protection grounds: juveniles are solely targeted because of their age and curfews are used to target certain racial groups.”If any place of business to which the public is invited is found to have minors on the premises in violation of the ordinance, the owner or operator may be fined $300 per violation,” said Sharpe, explaining that these owners or operators may protect themselves from prosecution if they promptly advise any violators to leave the establishment, and notify the police if they refuse.”The ordinance does allow for some exemptions, which include: if the child is in the company of their parents, at work or using a direct route to or from work, reacting or responding to an emergency, and others.”Sharpe said the Youth Protection Ordinance is an invaluable tool which authorizes Lynn police to take children into protective custody, during late night and early morning hours.”The proactive enforcement efforts of our officers has undoubtedly prevented many children from participating in, or becoming a victim of crime,” he said. “When a child is found to be in violation, he or she is typically transported to the police station, and a parent or guardian is contacted. The interested adult is requested to respond to the station to take custody of their child, and encouraged not to allow a repeat offense.”If the child taken into custody is already on court probation, police will also inform the juvenile probation office of the circumstances, he said.If the child is a repeat offender, or there are indications of neglect or abuse, the state Department of Child and Family Services may be asked to get involved. “This ordinance was designed to protect the youth of our city. We ask that parents and guardians also utilize this as a tool, when deciding the appropriate curfew for children,” he said.Police Lt. Peter Holey, commanding officer of the department’s early-morning shift, compiled statistics that revealed 69 children were in violation of the Youth Protection Ordinance so far this year. The total includes the period of Jan. 1 to July 2.Of those violators, three out of four were boys. In terms of race, the boys were divided about evenly between white and Hispanic, with blacks and Asians making up a small fraction.For complete details, go online to the Police Department Web site at www.lynnpolice.org.