Curfew

It was with a world-weary feeling that we read Joanne Davidow's lead letter on today's page proposing a curfew for Rittenhouse Square to keep street people from camping there. The city actually has such a law on its books, imposing a 1 a.m. curfew in all city parks. Indeed, two years ago the Goode administration promised City Council that it would enforce the curfew in downtown parks and squares, but there has been no consistent follow-through. Such passivity shouldn't be confused with compassion.

In most Burlington County communities, police expect an onslaught of merry pranksters on both Mischief Night and Halloween night, Monday and Tuesday. On those nights, at least 10 of the county's 35 towns will enforce existing curfews or impose temporary ones. Though not imposing a curfew, Mount Laurel has an extensive plan for stemming trouble, said crime prevention officer Ference Schubert. "We're making several recommendations: that parents screen what candy children bring home, that kids only eat candy that is commercially wrapped, and that trick-or-treaters aren't out beyond a responsible hour," said Schubert.

CHANGES WERE made to the latest city curfew bill yesterday, following concerns about steeper fines, tougher enforcement and children's civil rights. City Council gave committee-level approval to the bill, introduced by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown on behalf of the Nutter administration. The proposal would impose a $75 fine for a violation, up from $25. The maximum penalty would be $500. The changes would give parents 30 days instead of 10 to pay the $75 fine after receiving a notice that their child violated curfew.

Jim Lynam doesn't believe in curfews. "I'm not a curfew guy," the 76ers' coach said yesterday. "I never had curfews with my kids. "But as I say that, I had one as a kid, because that was the way my father saw fit to do it. It worked for him. " The premise of a curfew has come up because Sixers captain Charles Barkley was involved in an incident at 2:30 a.m. Dec. 22 in Milwaukee in which he has been charged with a count of misdemeanor battery...

A rise in vandalism and other petty juvenile crimes is prompting Upper Uwchlan officials to consider adopting a series of tough new laws that, among other things, sets a curfew for teenagers and limits the operation of mini- bikes. The ordinances, which are to be voted on at a Board of Supervisors meeting Dec. 5, were proposed first by John DeMarco, the township's highest ranking policeman. Although the proposed laws have been written and are ready for debate and possible enactment by the supervisors, John Roughan, Upper Uwchlan's new township manager, said last week that he would discuss neither the measures themselves nor the rationale for them.

RE RONNIE Polaneczky's column on the Dixon House curfew center: Whenever I've felt compelled to write in response to an article or a rant, I haven't done so because my reaction was not positive - and we have enough of that in today's society. But this is different. I was very impressed and inspired by this article. It sounds like it is working wonders, and I can't believe that Temple criminal-justice professor Ralph Taylor would hesitate on touting the success of the program without "hard numbers.

Call it the domino effect. Three months ago, Palmyra Borough Council, alarmed at late night rowdiness by teenagers hanging out in the downtown business district, authorized a curfew to quiet things down. The Riverton Borough Council is expected to adopt an identical ordinance at its meeting Thursday night, chiefly to prevent the youths from taking their rowdy outings to its own neighborhoods. Shortly after Palmyra enacted its curfew in March, Riverton Police Chief Thomas Gilbert warned council that Riverton might become a hangout for youths if it did not pass its own legislation.

THE CORNER of Broad and South streets has long been a popular spot for Philadelphia's teen mobs, whose activity has led to a 9 p.m. weekend curfew for those under 18. But members of several community groups hope to turn the tables tonight at 8:30 in a demonstration against the curfew. Diop Olugbala, an independent mayoral candidate, says the curfew infringes on the rights of youth to assemble freely. It also fails to get to what he describes as the heart of the problem: economic conditions.

Beginning sometime this week, borough police will enforce a curfew for those 17 and under after 10:30 on weeknights and midnight on Friday and Saturday. The curfew is longstanding and long-ignored, but Mayor Jack Salamone vows this move is serious. "We're actually going to do a roundup," Salamone said. "We will have extra patrols to make sure the kids know we are not playing. " Those on the streets after the deadlines will be arrested. Detective Leonard "Libby" Liberatoscioli, Norristown's juvenile officer, will be visiting schools next week to explain the policy to students.

Aside from booze, gas and drug stores, Camden will soon be closed for business by 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. In a decision published Monday, Camden County Superior Court Judge Faustino Fernandez-Vina upheld the city's business curfew ordinance passed in 2011, which was legally challenged by a city activist and some take-out restaurant owners. The city has not determined when it will start enforcing the ordinance. But once it does, businesses within 200 feet of residential zones will have to adhere to the following hours of operation: Sunday-Thursday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, from 6 a.m. to midnight.

Camden businesses subject to a controversial late-night curfew won a reprieve Monday when a judge issued an injunction that prohibits city officials from enforcing the ordinance until a full hearing. Plans to start citing business owners who stayed open past 11 p.m. Monday were immediately put on hold. The ordinance, passed a year ago by City Council, is intended to control crime in a city that is ranked among the most dangerous in the nation. City officials argue that businesses that stay open into the early morning attract drug activity and other crime.

Late-night Camden businesses subject to a controversial curfew won a reprieve this morning when a judge issued an injunction that prohibits police from enforcing the ordinance. The curfew, to have been implemented tonight, was passed by Camden City Council last year and was intended to control crime. It requires businesses within 200 feet of residential neighborhoods to close by 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. Restaurants that serve alcohol and gas stations would be exempt.

As we learn constantly in this country, politicians have an incredible ability to fuss over nonsense and avoid the big issues.   And then there's what happened Saturday night in London. Authorities enforced a 10:30 p.m. curfew on Bruce Springsteen's Hyde Park concert just when the Boss called to the stage some old bass player named Paul McCartney. Who has a 10:30 curfew? A 10-year-old? But Springsteen had already exceeded the curfew by half an hour when he welcomed Sir Paul for a legendary duet of "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Twist and Shout.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Former neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was released from jail Friday for a second time while he awaits trial on second-degree murder charges in the fatally shooting of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman left the Seminole County Jail a day after Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester granted a $1 million bail with strict conditions. He ignored shouted questions from nearby reporters as he walked out and got into an SUV. The judge is requiring Zimmerman to stay in Seminole County.

Instead of shutting down late-night businesses early, Camden's curfew law has become the tale of one delay after another. A lawsuit scheduled to be heard Tuesday from some business owners and city activist Frank Fulbrook challenging the ordinance has been delayed until the end of summer. And the city, which has yet to enforce the law passed in September, plans to convene a meeting later this month to discuss enforcement by summer. The ordinance — which mandates that businesses in residential zones or within 200 feet of a residential zone close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays and between midnight and 6 a.m. on weekends as a way to help curb crime — went into effect Sept.

Mayor Nutter signed a bill Monday establishing stricter curfew rules and stiffer penalties for minors and their parents in response to "flash mob" violence this year. Anyone 13 or younger who is not with a parent or legal guardian will need to be off the streets by 8 p.m. during the school year and 9 p.m. during the summer. Older teens will have later curfews, up to 11 p.m. for 16 and 17 during the summer. Parents can be fined up to $500 depending on the violation. Minors breaking curfew will be taken to police stations, where they can be picked up by their parents.

THE NEW curfew law will be enormously better for the police. My brother is a Philadelphia police sergeant, and he says the mayhem with the kids is late at night. The curfew will have less kids on the street and the cops can contain them better. With flash mobs, the stores should have a security system so when a large group comes in and begins grabbing things, the owner can push a button that locks the doors, then he can call 9-1-1. George Walton Upper Darby, Pa. The new curfew law is a bogus attempt by City Council to act as though they care about the citizens of this city.

Presidential debate sites picked WASHINGTON - The committee that sponsors presidential debates during the general election chose Denver, Hempstead, N.Y., and Boca Raton, Fla., as the sites for three debates in October 2012. One vice presidential debate will be held in Danville, Ky., the Commission on Presidential Debates said Monday. The debates between President Obama and his Republican challenger will take place Oct. 3 at the University of Denver, Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and Oct. 22 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. The vice presidential debate is set for Oct. 11 at Centre College in Danville, Ky. The commission was established in 1987 and has sponsored the official presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Dozens of anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested Sunday in Texas, where they clashed with police over food tables, and in Oregon, where officers dragged them out of a park in an affluent neighborhood. In New York and other East Coast cities, it was a snowstorm that was making it difficult for demonstrators to stay camped out in public places. The Occupy movement, which began six weeks ago in Lower Manhattan to decry corporate influence in government and wealth inequality, has spread to cities large and small across the country and around the world.