City Council voted unanimously to extend the curfew at its Jan. 24 meeting. The ordinance states that it must be reviewed every three years to stay in effect.
According to city documents, the curfew only applies to unsupervised minors in public spaces. The curfew’s hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday to Thursday and 12:01 am to 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The ordinance has exemptions for minors who are out during curfew hours for certain approved purposes and does not apply to children under age 10.
Chief of Police Ed Drain said a minor in Plano is anyone between 10 and 17 years old. Some exemptions from the ordinance include running an errand for a parent, traveling, working, an emergency situation and attending a school or religious activity, according to a city report.
“We believe this has been an effective tool and we think we should continue it,” Drain said during the Jan. 24 meeting.
According to a city presentation, since the ordinance began in 1994, the number of offenses committed by minors during curfew hours has trended downward.
City data states that from January 2019 through November 2021, there were 118 minors arrested or cited during curfew hours. The data shows this is a 14% decrease from the 138 minors arrested or cited during curfew times from 2016 through 2018.
“As someone with 14- and 16-year-old boys at home, I am in favor of this,” Council Member Julie Homer said.
More information about the ordinance can be found here.
