The Harrisburg Police Bureau plans to strengthen enforcement of a longstanding curfew for youth in the city.
On Monday, the city announced that, starting this week, it will reinforce a 2007 ordinance that mandates a curfew for people until 18 years of age.
“We need to do a better job by our kids. This ordinance is to benefit them,” said Mayor Wanda Williams. “There is no reason why children should be out at night, disrupting neighborhoods and getting involved in fights.”
Over the years, enforcement of the curfew has fluctuated between being more and less strict.
The “after hours” curfew states that youth under the age of 18 may not be in a public place between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Sunday through Thursday nights, and 12 a.m. midnight and 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Curfew regulations will not apply to youth attending an event, like a concert, school or religious function, or game, according to the city. It will also not affect people coming home from work or traveling through the city.
Harrisburg Police officers will pick up any youth caught violating the ordinance and return them to their home or place of residence, at which point they will only be released to a parent, guardian, or responsible adult, the city stated. If someone is picked up who does not live in Harrisburg, they will be held at the Public Safety Building, located at 123 Walnut St., until a parent, guardian or responsible adult arrives to pick them up, according to the city.
“We plan on having additional enforcement details downtown during these times,” said police Commissioner Thomas Carter. “The goal is not to be the bad guy here. We just want our kids to be safe.”
Exceptions to the curfew are as follows:
- The minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult.
- The minor is involved in an emergency.
- The minor is engaged in an activity, such as work, a concert, or sporting event, or is returning home from said activity, without detour or stop.
- The minor is on the sidewalk directly next to their home
- The minor is attending an activity sponsored by a school, religious, or civic organization, which is supervised by adults, or is returning home from said activity.
- The minor is on an errand at the direction of a parent, with a signed note from the parent containing the following information: name, signature, address, and telephone number of the adult authorizing the errand.
- The minor is traveling through the city.
Any student who attends the Harrisburg School District, and works at night, may pick up a work order form at the district’s enrollment center, located at 2900 N. 6th Street, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Park in the north parking lot, and enter through Door 4.
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