A strict new curfew law for teenagers was implemented Friday in Baltimore, Maryland. Legislators hope that keeping kids in at night will reduce their likelihood of becoming involved with violent crime, as either perpetrators or victims.
The law requires children under the age of 14 to be indoors after 9 p.m. unless under adult supervision. Fourteen, 15, and 16-year-olds have until 10 p.m. to be out on weekdays, and 11 p.m. on weekends and in the summertime, according to the Associated Press.
“If (children) are out there that late by themselves, that’s an indicator that they and their families need services,” argues Baltimore City Councilman Brandon Scott.
Opponents of the law, such as Sonia Kumar, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, believe that it “essentially criminalizes people for just being outside.”
Parents and guardians of curfew violators could face fines of up to $500, as reported by Reuters. And if a parent or guardian cannot be found, authorities will alert Child Protective Services.