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Amendment would allow county to set curfew for the under-17 set
Feb 09, 2010 (Columbia Daily Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
JEFFERSON CITY -- The Boone County Commission would have the authority to establish a curfew for youths younger than 17 under an amendment adopted today in the state Senate.
Sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, the amendment would empower the commission to enact an ordinance establishing curfew hours for public streets and highways, public grounds, alleys, parks and playgrounds. Violators of such an ordinance would be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
A parent or guardian of a curfew violator also could be found guilty of a misdemeanor if the parent had knowledge of the violation.
Schaefer's amendment was attached by a voice vote to a broader bill dealing with cities and counties. The amendment was drafted in such a way as to limit the curfew ordinance enacting powers only to Boone County.
"We've had a lot of crime in Boone County," Schaefer said. He added that the Boone County Commission and the sheriff's office had requested the inclusion of the amendment.
"The county commission doesn't think it has the authority to do this without this legislation," Schaefer said.
Originally the bill had proposed making the curfew ordinance authority apply to counties across the state. But Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington and sponsor of the bill, thought that would be too controversial and moved to take it out. Then, Griesheimer said he had been approached by representatives of Boone County.
"Boone County has a particularly bad crime problem," Griesheimer said. "This would apply strictly to Boone County and no other county in the state."
Sen. Tim Green, a Democrat from north St. Louis County, said he didn't want to interfere with young people's ability to work nights in restaurants.
"It would never be the intention to inhibit the ability of someone to work," Schaefer said. "I have full confidence in the Boone County Commission to do the right thing."
The Senate did not take final action on the broader bill.
Reach Terry Ganey at 573-815-1708 or e-mail tganey@columbiatribune.com.
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