SAN ANGELO – The San Angelo City Council Tuesday reluctantly began the legal process of deleting the local Juvenile Curfew from its code of ordinances after the Texas Legislature banned them statewide beginning Sept. 1, 2023.
The Juvenile Curfew in San Angelo has been in effect for well over a decade and seemed to be popular among current council members during their meeting Tuesday. "I am dismayed and saddened." said councilman Tommy Hiebert.
HB1819 signed by the governor reads as follows: Sec.A370.007.AAJUVENILE CURFEWS PROHIBITED. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision may not adopt or enforce an order, ordinance, or other measure that imposes a curfew to regulate the movements or actions of persons younger than 18 years of age.
The bill comes following Governor Greg Abbott's fight to keep parents in charge of their kids. As the same with school choice, Abbott believes that parents should be the ones choosing their children's curfew.
The curfew was popular with law enforcement as a tool to keep children under 18 off the streets at night. Mayor Brenda Gunter reminded the council that even without the curfew, criminal behavior is still illegal and police can still ticket and arrest juveniles for breaking any existing law.
The curfew in San Angelo was effective from 11 p.m. on weekdays and 12:01 a.m. on weekends.
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