A nightly curfew for minors in Richardson will remain unchanged after City Council voted unanimously April 15 to extend the city's juvenile ordinance.

The ordinance has been in place since 1994 and must be renewed every three years. It stipulates children under the age of 17 must be off the streets between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and between 12:01-6 a.m. on weekends unless under adult supervision. Violation of the curfew is a Class C misdemeanor and could result in a maximum $500 fine.

“Nothing good happens between those hours, whether you're an adult or a child, and if you’re a child you don’t have the decision making or experiences to call on as you do as an adult," Assistant Police Chief Danny Martin said during his presentation to council.

Some exceptions to the curfew are allowed under the ordinance, such as if a minor is running an errand for a parent, coming or going from work, or traveling.

Over the past three years, the city has issued 63 citations for curfew violations, Martin said. Of those, 14 subsequent arrests have been made, he said. Overall juvenile crime is down 22% since 2013, Martin said.

Council will vote to renew the ordinance in 2022.