Minors face earlier curfew in Ypsilanti Township
In an attempt to curtail teenagers’ late-night activities, Ypsilanti Township officials adjusted the township’s curfew ordinance to begin at 10 p.m.
Minors under the age of 18 in any outdoor public place within the township between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. will be in violation of the curfew.
A parent or guardian of a minor is guilty of an offense if they knowingly permit, or by insufficient control, allow a minor to remain in an outdoor public place during curfew hours.
Any outdoor public place refers to places the public has access to and includes streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks, playgrounds or vacant lots.
Those in violation of the curfew are guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine up to $100 and/or 90 days in jail.
Minors may be in public places during curfew hours if:
• They are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• They are on an errand at the direction of a parent or guardian.
• They are in a motor vehicle traveling on a public or private street or highway.
• They are involved in an emergency.
• They are attending an official school, religious or recreational activity supervised by adults.
• They are exercising First Amendment rights, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech and the right of assembly.
• They are married, had been married or emancipated in accordance with Michigan law.
Ypsilanti police have been enforcing the city's 11 p.m. curfew in recent months.
The township's earlier curfew went into effect June 19.
Officials say they hope the earlier curfew will keep the streets safer and help reduce crimes.
Comments
Monica
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 : 2:20 a.m.
@ Andy....if you do not know that teen crime has been going up in all areas of Ypsilanti Township, not just West Willow, try reading the crime status a little closer.
Gorc
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 7:34 p.m.
If a police officer happens to cross paths, after 10 p.m., with any young person that they recognize who has a problematic past...then this ordinance has a chance of preventing a crime. I realize it's a small chance that a kid up to no good and a police officer cross paths....but if happens then the ordinance served it's purpose.
M.
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 4:49 p.m.
Shadow - Nobody was complaining about minors who stay in cars or indoors. The ordinance is for outdoor public places and excludes minors who are riding in vehicles.
ShadowManager
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 2:51 p.m.
The "problem area" seem to be the front entrances of almost all party stores, where the minors wait in their cars for adults to buy them alcohol and smokes.
ronn oneal
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 1:41 p.m.
@Ricebrnr you have a valid point that the township and city need to address before they violate human rights. @andy Not only west willow but the youths of all races in areas where gangs have developed has grave concren not just violence but the larceny goes up on a large scale. @ypsi law enforcement- Try getting a grant to hire some ex-hard core gang members to intervine and maybe save at least 2-3 out of 10 young lives. wish I could say all but never in my 4.5 Decades have a seen 10 bangers make it to 21. That could be a goal but its not the police alone that going to make it happen. It takes a village to raise a child. It takes the world to raise law abiding Men and Women.
stevek
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 1:33 p.m.
What kind of craaaazy idea is this? It is almost as if by getting the hoodlums (who have nothing better to do) off the street the crime rate will go down. That's just silly!!!
ondego
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 1:31 p.m.
I live in Ypsi Township, it's not just West Willow where the problem exists, its my neighborhood too. We can't have anything left outside, including trash the night before, because the kids roam the streets and create problems by dumping trash and yard waste all over the place. It's aggravating and seems like NOTHING can be done because they are juveniles. We'll see how the new curfew works.
M.
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 12:44 p.m.
It states in the article that they are exempted if exercising those rights, but nearly anything I could think of that there isn't already a law against can arguably fall under exercising first amendment rights, therefore negating the curfew.
Steve the Wookiee
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.
@Ricebrnr - I would imagine the First Amendment argument is circumvented because the curfew applies to minors. I'm not an attorney but I would imagine that is the basis. Not sure if that would hold up in court.
tdw
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 8:54 a.m.
@ Andy I suspect it's West Willow things are getting out of control again
Soothslayer
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.
Anyone know what particurlar incidents or "problem areas" prompted Ypsilanti Township to initiate the curfew in the first place?
a2bucks
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.
Agree with Ricebrnr. The curfew is meaningless with all the provisions under the first amendment.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 6:48 a.m.
Can someone explain how; "They are exercising First Amendment rights, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech and the right of assembly." doesn't negate the curfew? Also I wonder if there will be a spike in young marriages due to "They are married, had been married or emancipated in accordance with Michigan law"? Interesting times.