Here's What's Hot On CBS11TV.COM:
Feb 25, 2008 4:35 pm US/Central
Fort Worth Juvenile Curfew Ordinance Expires
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The City of Fort Worth will have to refund tens of thousands of dollars in fines, after mistakenly allowing the juvenile curfew ordinance to expire last spring.
A Texas state law, passed in 1995, requires that a city conduct a review of their curfew ordinances every three years. If the city doesn't review the ordinance then the curfew is void.
Reviewing the curfew's benefits and holding public hearings on whether to continue, abolish or modify the ordinance, are all part of the renewal process.
The juvenile ordinance for the City of Fort Worth expired on April 6, 2007, which means all citations written over the past 10 months are invalid.
During that period a total of 1,575 tickets were issued and $34,464 in fines collected. City officials say all pending citations issued since April 6, 2007 will be dismissed and anyone who has already paid a fine for a citation issued during the 10-month period will receive a refund check in the mail.
The Fort Worth City Council is now reviewing the ordinance and has set two public hearings for input. The first public hearing will be held February 26th and the second on March 4th. If approved by city council on March 4th, the ordinance will be reinstated immediately.
If reinstated, the juvenile curfew ordinance will prohibit anyone younger than 17-years-old from being in a public place after 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and after 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The curfew will end at 6 a.m. seven days a week.
Exceptions to the law will allow juveniles to be out during curfew hours if:
-
with a parent or guardian
- on an errand at the direction of a parent or guardian
- in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel
- engaged in employment
- at a school, religious or other recreational activity supervised by adults
-
married.
While the curfew isn't currently in effect Fort Worth police say they will continue their efforts to protect children and maintain neighborhood safety. In a press release issued Friday, Acting Fort Worth Police Chief Pat Kneblick said, "Even though the ordinance is not in effect, police officers will continue to patrol our neighborhoods to deter juvenile crime and victimization."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Hollywood Hair
Click to enlarge
Dallas Man Killed Overnight By Irving Police 1 hr 6 mins ago 
Princeton Family Thankful For Transportation 2 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Reporting
