Dallas To Reinstate Teen Curfew

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The Dallas City Council voted 10-5 Wednesday afternoon to reinstate the city's teen curfew for minors under 17 years old.

The old teen curfew expired last month after going into effect in 1991.

The curfew begins again on Monday, March 4.

The new curfew keeps daytime and nighttime hours and reduces the maximum fine from $500 to $50.

The city will also give $500,000 to the Parks and Rec Department for youth services, which will include providing ID cards so teens can get into those facilities for free.

"Listening to story after story after story, having a curfew has impacted, improved and saved kids' lives.  I've been begged by school principals at high schools don't take the curfew away," said Dallas City Councilman Adam McGough.

Some members of the community opposed the curfew, saying it continues to criminalize youngsters.

"We're angry and we're upset that the council members today didn't even seem to want to listen to the mounds of research that have been presented to them showing that these ordinances don't work.  They make people and teens less safe," said  Nan Kirkpatrick of the Democratic Socialists of America, North Texas

The Dallas Police Association supports the curfew and fought for it.

"I'm just thankful we do have a curfew again.  This has always been about saving kids' lives.  It had nothing to do with making them criminals.  I think it's they fine they reduced the fine to $50.  This is not about making money for the city," said Mike Mata, President of the Dallas Police Association.