For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 6, 2011
ROCKVILLE, Md., December 6, 2011—After a lengthy discussion, the Montgomery County Council today voted to table Expedited Bill 25-11 that would have established a youth curfew in Montgomery County. In July, County Executive Isiah Leggett originally proposed establishment of a youth curfew.
The Council voted 6-3 to table the bill after holding a worksession today. The Council also voted 5-4 to table Bill 35-11 that would have created a law prohibiting loitering or prowling under certain circumstances. Under Council rules, either bill can be reconsidered at a future date.
On Dec. 1, the Council’s Public Safety Committee, which is chaired by Phil Andrews and includes Councilmembers Roger Berliner and Marc Elrich, voted 2-0-1 to recommend that the full Council not approve the curfew. Councilmembers Andrews and Berliner voted to recommend against the bill. Councilmember Marc Elrich abstained.
Bill 25-11 would have established a curfew for minors, prohibiting certain activities during the curfew hours for minors under 18. Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday and from 12:01 a.m. until 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, a minor would have been prohibited from remaining in any County public place or establishment. A minor could have been cited for a curfew violation only after a police officer has told the minor to move along and the minor refused.
On Aug. 31, the County Executive proposed major amendments to his original bill.
The proposed bill contained numerous exceptions. A minor could have lawfully remained in public areas during curfew hours, including if they were accompanied by a parent or an adult authorized by the minor’s parent to accompany the minor or attending or returning home from an official school, religious or other recreational activity sponsored by the County, a civic organization or similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor would also provide an exemption from the curfew. Other exceptions included returning home from a place of employment or from attending “an event at a place of public entertainment.”
A minor also would have been exempt from the curfew if they told a questioning police officer that they were exercising First Amendment rights protected by the U.S. Constitution, such as protesting the curfew.
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Release ID: 11-253
Media Contact: Neil Greenberger 240-777-7939, Delphine Harriston 240-777-7931