The Detroit City Council voted Tuesday afternoon to increase fines for parents whose children violate the city's overnight curfew laws. 

The item was a late addition to Tuesday's city council agenda, but it had been expected. Police Chief Todd Bettison also asked in advance for an immediate vote. Six votes were required for it to pass.

Until now, a first-time offense has resulted in a fine of $75, with a repeat offense resulting in a $100 fine. Fines will now increase for a first-time offense to $250 and for a repeat offense to $500. 

The Public Health and Safety Standing Committee met for nearly an hour on Monday to discuss the amendment on the fines, voting to send it on to the full council.   

"This is a step as far as accountability, but it's not about penalizing anyone. I just need to change behavior," Bettison said.

"At the end of the day, if the government can't protect its citizens, if the government can't protect its babies, why are we here?" said Detroit City County At Large Coleman A. Young II. "At the core of this, for me, this is about saving lives."

The idea of increasing curfew fines was introduced to the community during a July 7 press conference, during which Bettison and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan explained their summer safety teen violence prevention strategy. Some of the violent crimes during the early summer had taken place late at night and/or with the involvement of large groups of people nearby, and police promised to take a strict curfew enforcement approach as a prevention measure. 

Between July 8 and 20, Detroit police issued 122 curfew violations, writing 68 parental responsibility tickets. 

The City of Detroit's curfew law — known officially as the "Regulation of Minors in Public Places and Adult Responsibility for Violations" law — has been on the books since the mid-1980s. Anyone age 17 and younger is subject to the overnight curfew order, with those age 15 and younger expected inside at an earlier time.

"We don't want to fine anybody, but we have to get parents to take this very seriously," Duggan said earlier this summer.  

While residents who spoke out in support of the measure said a curfew is not new, the need for increased consequences pushed many to ask the council to approve it.

"We're doing what you're asking us to do, I am telling you it's not enough," said community activist Teferi Brent.

The only opposed vote came from Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero, who said the move would be more punitive to hardworking parents, rather than helpful.

"I'm not here to fight this, I'm here to work with you along this process to figure out what else we can do to support this village," said Santiago-Romero.

Councilmembers also removed jail time as a potential consequence for parents, which they said allows for larger conversations around resources, rather than punishment.

Bettison called the decision a key to parental responsibility and another tool in fighting crime in the city.

"All the kids are our kids. We're one Detroit, we're one community, and we all have to do better, and this is just one step towards doing better," said Bettison.