Opponents criticize proposed tougher Philadelphia curfew

A Philadelphia City Council Committee has approved modifying the curfew rules for minors.  

Jeffrey Nadel of the National Youth Rights Association of Philadelphia testified against the tighter curfew.

“There is no surer way to create a relationship of hostility and distrust between city leaders, law enforcement and young people than to exclude them from the discussion altogether and enforce a heavy-handed law against them,” said Nadel.

The earlier curfews also come with fines of up to $500.  City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell says that’s too much.

“People can’t pay for basic needs now and I agree that we need to do something I just think that we really gotta consider what we do in terms of fining people who are already taxed out,” said Blackwell.

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown says it’s a matter of reminding parents to do their job.

“Can we legislate good parenting, absolutely not, but when government is required to step in then we have to if we want to look at and consider preventive measures that indeed help parents do their enormous job anyhow,” said Reynolds Brown.

The ACLU says this curfew is more restrictive than ones that have been overturned by courts.