Curfew Alert: Minors Must Be Off the Streets by 8 PM Under SOE

Heads up, parents and teens, a curfew is in effect under the current State of Emergency, but it applies only to minors. According to police, anyone under eighteen must be off the streets by eight p.m. unless they’re with a parent or guardian. The curfew runs from eight p.m. to six a.m., and officers say they’ll be enforcing it strictly in SOE zones. Inspector Stacy Smith shared more details, reminding families that the curfew is meant to keep young people safe during this tense period.

 

Inspector Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“The curfew implemented in the state of emergency is only in relation to minors. So it is not applicable to other persons and only in relation to minors who are unaccompanied. Though we are under a period of state of emergency, it is always important that we know that whatever limits we put on people; s constitutional rights it is only to the extent that it is necessary. If it is not deemed necessary it is not something recommended and will not be implemented. So there is no curfew, because while we deem that the situation has reached a critical level, we believe the efforts we can undertake can be realized within the ambits of those provision in the SOE.”

 

Reporter

“A basketball game will occur on Friday and run up to midnight.”

 

Inspector Stacy Smith

“Certainly, even outside of the SOE, it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that whenever there are minors out on the street they are accompanied by a very responsible adult. So if an SOE is not in place it is expected that adults will accompany those minors.”

 

So, if you’re a minor, or have one at home, make sure you’re indoors by nightfall, or accompanied by an adult if you need to be out.