March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Youth lends his voice to discussion on proposed Bangor juvenile curfew

He came to the public hearing before the municipal operations committee with a goal — to understand what the proposed juvenile curfew ordinance would mean to him and his friends.

But Joshua Gass, 17, of Bangor, also served as the voice for the notably absent, the minors under the age of 17 the ordinance could eventually affect.

“A curfew encompasses all the children” in the city, said Gass. “If I want to come downtown and dance on the steps of City Hall, I have the right to do that. I have the right to assemble under the Constitution.”

“It seems to me that we’re dealing with a small number [of youths],” he said, “and I don’t want to be punished for their actions.”

The most recent draft of the proposed ordinance, presented to the committee by City Solicitor Erik Stumpfel, was modeled after an ordinance in Dallas which has stood up to rigorous court tests.

The proposed curfew hours, according to the five-page ordinance, would keep children under the age of 17 off the streets between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights, and between 12:01 and 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights.

One of the ordinance’s provisions was the subject of debate at the Tuesday night hearing: If passed, any public or private agency that provides shelter to a minor under the age of 17, like the Shaw House, could be held accountable if the minor was found in violation of the ordinance.

Currently, the Shaw House, Council Chairwoman Pat Blanchette noted, will neither confirm nor deny whether a youth is in residence to anybody. She expressed concern that the agency doesn’t have rules or a self-imposed curfew that works to keep youths off the street at night.

“In your own home [minors] have rules,” said Blanchette. “This is the one place where they won’t have rules. We can’t force [Shaw House] to enforce a curfew, but sometimes, in order to get their attention, you have to hit the wallet first.”

Any agency which doesn’t comply with the ordinance could then be served a fine “not to exceed $500.” Business owners, operators, or any employee of an establishment could also commit an offense if he or she “knowingly allows a minor to remain upon the premises of the establishment during curfew hours.”

In the past, other ordinances, including that of Dallas, have only held parents and any guardian, public or private agency appointed by the court accountable for the minor’s actions.

Bangor has a curfew ordinance on the books already, but for the past 30 years it hasn’t been enforced.

Various exemptions have been drawn into the proposed ordinance, so that it “doesn’t punish the good kids,” said Councilor Michael Aube.

Councilor Don Soucy said the ordinance is “geared at trouble-makers and loiterers.”

Recent years have led to a spurt in the number of crimes committed by and against area youths, according to Police Chief Randy Harriman. He said the ordinance would be a way to address the problem and “get some control over the youth” before it gets more serious.

Juveniles in violation of the ordinance — which would stay in effect until Jan. 1, 1998 when it would be subject to renewal — can be detained for six hours or until a parent or guardian is contacted. The youth or their parent-guardian can also be subject to a $500 fine.


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