Normal 0 Miami teens will have to cram in all the fun they can before midnight as police are set to enforce their summer teen curfew.
The City of Miami Police Department will begin to actively enforce the Juvenile Teen Curfew Ordinance beginning Friday night and running through the summer until August 31.
The curfew makes it unlawful for any person under the age of seventeen years old to linger, stay, congregate, or move about in any public place in Miami-Dade County and in the City of Miami, on foot or in a vehicle during curfew hours.
The hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 12 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
While the curfew may sound harsh, Miami-Dade police say the ordinance is not meant to interrupt the fun. The main focus is to prevent crime and keep kids safe.
“You really have to be just standing around to violate the ordinance. Our emphasis is to save lives, to keep kids alive,” said Miami Police Community Relations Director Maj. Craig McQueen.
Police say the ordinance was adopted in response to the increasing number of juvenile crimes committed last summer.
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“I tell them all the time if you can think of something better that we can do to reduce the youth violence other than the teen curfew, the Miami Police Department door is open,” McQueen said
Any teen caught out after curfew will be given a citation and taken home or to a holding facility. After the third offense, parents will receive a citation and a fine of up to $500.
According to the ordinance, officers may approach any juvenile and ask for identifying information as well as a reason for being out after curfew.
There are twelve permissible excuses, if the juvenile is:
-Accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or someone 21 years or older given permission by the parent or legal guardian.
-Engaged in work related activity or returning home from work with no stops along the way.
-Engaged in interstate travel.
-On an errand with written approval from parent or legal guardian.
-Involved in or responding to an emergency (a situation requiring immediate action to care for or prevent serious bodily injury or loss of life)
-Attending an official school, religious, or recreational activity sponsored by adults 21 years or older sponsored by the county of Miami-Dade, the Miami-Dade County School Board, municipality, a civic organization, or similar entity, where organizations acknowledge juvenile as an invitee
-On the sidewalk of his or her residence or that of a neighbor and the neighbor has not complained to police.
-Exercising First Amendment rights as recognized in the United States Constitution such as free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, and the right of assembly.
-Attending or returning to current residence from a public place that is open to the general public and supervised by adults 21 years or older; as long as that activity begins before 10 p.m. and the juvenile has a note of permission from parent or legal guardian.
-Married by law or had disability of nonage removed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
-Homeless or uses a public or semi-public place as a substitute home.
-When a County Commissioner pursuant to an application by a sponsor of an event not provided for in this subsection, or any other person authorizes juvenile to be out during curfew hours.
Police stressed that the ordinance is not a criminal one and there are exceptions.
“This isn’t focusing on those coming home from work or anything this is about the teens that are just standing on the corner not doing anything,” McQueen said.
"Everyone is thinking we're just trying to stop the kids from having fun," said Miami Police's Keandra Simmons. "No, our biggest concern is to keep the kids safe, we want to make sure you know where your kids are."
