Not since the height of COVID-19 pandemic was there an active curfew ordinance in the city of Orange, but Orange Police Department Chief Lane Martin considers it a beneficial move for the city.
“I consider this to be an effective tool that discourages juvenile crime and safeguards our children from being victims of crime,” Martin said. “Officers often seek voluntary compliance of the ordinance prior to issuance of citations.”
The final reading of the ordinance was approved at the Orange City Council’s regular monthly meeting on March 14.
Similar to Beaumont’s, according to the ordinance, the purpose of the curfew for minors is to promote the general welfare and protect the general public through the reduction of juvenile violence and crime within the city; promote the safety and well-being of the city’s youngest citizens, persons under the age of 17, whose inexperience renders them particularly vulnerable to becoming a participant in unlawful activities, particularly drug activities, and to being victimized by older perpetrators of crime, and foster and strengthen parental responsibility for children.
The curfew for minors is 11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, while the Friday and Saturday curfew begins at 12 a.m. and ends at 6 a.m. every day of the week. The ordinance defines a minor as a person under the age 17.
According to the ordinance:
• It’s unlawful for any minor to knowingly remain in or upon any public place or to remain in any motor vehicle operating or parked therein or thereon, or to remain in or upon the premises if any establishment within the city during the curfew hours of minors.
• A parent or guardian of a minor commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, encourages, or by insufficient control allows a minor to remain in or upon any public place, or to remain in any motor vehicle operating or parked therein or thereon, or to remain in or upon the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours for minors.
• The owner, operator, or any employee of any private establishment or the lessee of any public facility commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, allows, or encourages a minor to remain in or upon the premises of the establishment during curfew hours for minors.
• It’s unlawful for any person (including a minor) to give a false name, address, date of birth, or telephone number to any officer investigating a possible violation of this section.
While there are several circumstances a minor may find themselves in offense of the ordinance, there are exceptions such as being with a parent or guardian, or handling an emergency, going to or from a school or religious function, to name a few.
The penalty section of the ordinance states that violations are a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 and that a person who violates is guilty of a separate offense for each day or part of a day during which the violation is committed, continued, or permitted. It is also stated that the municipal court shall waive original jurisdiction over a minor who violates subsection a. and shall refer the minor to juvenile court.
Orange is not alone in its efforts, joining surrounding municipalities enforcing curfews for minors, such as Vidor, whose minor curfew is 11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, while Groves, Beaumont, and Nederland have the same curfews set as that recently adopted by Orange.
Fines range from $181 in Nederland to up to $500 in the aforementioned cities.
In Hardin County, the cities of Lumberton, Kountze, and Silsbee do not have curfews set for minors.
Should there be any questions regarding specific circumstances, each city ordinance is listed on their respective websites, for public access.
— Barbara Davis, Staff Writer