Council considers 11 p.m. juvenile curfew

Remember the city's proposal last year to set a 10 p.m. curfew for kids under age 17? It never really went anywhere, and now City Council is trying again: Yesterday, councilmembers began discussing a proposal to set Houston's juvenile curfew at 11 p.m. HPD Assistant Executive Chief Mike Thaler told councilmembers that the earlier curfew — it's now set at midnight on weekdays — would not only help curb juvenile crime, but would also give police a reason to stop teens who are out too late:

"It gives them (police) a reason to stop an individual, maybe 15 or 16 years old, and then have that conversation, say, 'We really need to get you home,'" Thaler said. "Many times, that interdiction or that action, hopefully, helps prevent the individual from getting into further trouble."

So, would setting the curfew an hour earlier really take care of that much crime? Well, it's not clear yet: During last year's discussion, Thaler told councilmembers that HPD had arrested thousands of juveniles committing crimes between 10 and 11 p.m., but no one really talked about the hour between 11 p.m. and midnight. The 10 p.m. proposal drew fire from several councilmembers who thought it was too strict or too difficult to enforce, but the Chronicle reports that the new 11 p.m. idea seems to have wider support. The need for some kind of curfew decision is a little more pressing this time around, too, because the old curfew will expire on May 11 if the ordinance isn't renewed or amended. Better stock up on body armor now, just in case.

Mayor Bill White, who has two teenage kids, said he thinks the 11 p.m. curfew is a good idea: "Eleven o'clock is late enough," he said. "[It] will reduce the risk to those young people, reduce the risk to the community and give new tools to law enforcement and to parents." The proposal also has the support of Councilman Adrian Garcia, who pushed for the 10 p.m. curfew last year. "This strikes a fair balance between an increase in public safety for young people and making sure the change would be a meaningful one," Garcia said. On the other side of the fence is Councilman Michael Berry, who said he will vote against any curfew ordinance. "It should never be illegal to be outside your house," he said.

The first of two public hearings on the 11 p.m. curfew was held before yesterday's council meeting — during school hours — and, not surprisingly, no teens showed up to voice their opinions. The second hearing is set for next Wednesday.