FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES OVERTURN TWO YOUTH CURFEWS

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/10218987.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp ^ | 11/19/2004 | Marc Caputo

[Nightshift]

Parents - this is the reason these laws were enacted for. Since the parents can't handle thier kids (or are just oblivious to them)someone needs to handle it, so guess what, big ol government stepped in.

this is a growing trend in America, parents not teaching and/or not supervising them. Parents want their children, but they also want to do what they want (party, socailize, have time without the kids, whatever...)so it's easy just to tell them go out and have fun with your friends till you get home. My kids get into enough problems at home let alone out on the street.

I am not saying a curfew is the solution, what I am saying, parents do you know where your kids are AND especially - what they are doing?

[JesseHousman]

Adults, in many cases, don't have parents. They're on their own in the big cruel world.

[bobsatwork]

....were too broad because they targeted minors who committed no other crime than being night owls.....In other words, they committed no crime other than VIOLATING THIS LAW. Shall we apply this principal to other laws? Murder? Rape? If you are only violating that one law, then it's not really a crime.

[DBeers]

it takes a village -without a curfew...

[Modernman]

I agree. If there's a legitimate reason for a responsible teen to be out late, there's no reason he should be prevented from doing so.

Exactly. Cops can arrest or ticket kids who are loitering, drinking, smoking etc. in public. If a group of teenagers are out at Denny's at 1 in the morning with their parents' permission, what business is it of the police?

[Ethan_Allen]

'Do you think its constitutional?'

I think it's a slippery slope. And loitering laws are another one. 'Loitering' could conceivably be construed to deny 'the right to peacefully assemble', such as in front of an abortion clinic, or hospice.

Pinellas Park bump

[JeffAtlanta]

local government, serving the majority and properly empowered, has the right to keep these little rats off the streets at night.

The local government should do this? Why not just ban blacks from being out at night? By your logic it would reduce the crime rate so the local government should look into it.

Why not have the local police force just enforce existing laws?

[JeffAtlanta]

Your grandmother is dead-on! My grandfather was of the same opinion. On a late-night trip back from the emergency room when I was a kid, I asked a question, "Why are these people out so late?" Grandfather's reply: "I don't know but you cant bet that at this hour they are up to no good."

Yeah, that means it must be true.

[Ethan_Allen]

One more quick note, in case these workmen cut off my electricity AGAIN, I couldn't be happier. I've read Florida's 'Juvenile Delinquent' Laws. They could have a very Orwellian impact. Kids are being abused in 'the care' of the states. One less tool for them, the better. Get the kids to church.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"Nothing good occurs past midnight outside the home"

Words from my grandmother which are absolute.

Don't go to Vegas much, do you? ;)

[Alissa]

How would these judges feel if it was their neighborhood? Maybe they should send some of these juveniles to the streets these judges reside - liberal snobbism - they probably live in gated communities!

[JeffAtlanta]

How would these judges feel if it was their neighborhood?

That's not how judges are supposed to rule. They are to follow the law and not let their biases come into play. Why do we bash the judges when the legislate from the bench in some cases and not in others?

[JeffAtlanta]

....were too broad because they targeted minors who committed no other crime than being night owls.....In other words, they committed no crime other than VIOLATING THIS LAW. Shall we apply this principal to other laws? Murder? Rape? If you are only violating that one law, then it's not really a crime.

The same could be said of the anti-gun laws. See the problem?

[tutstar]

I think we really need to do a better job at keeping track of judges rulings so that when elections come we can get them voted out. Most folks I've talked with are very concerned re their vote on judges but don't have enough info to decide one way or the other so they just reelect them.

[JesseHousman]

Why not just ban blacks from being out at night?

Jeff, you need to get a grip on yourself.

What the hell does blacks have to do with these local, repeat local, curfew rulings that now have been overturned by a bench of fatheaded liberals who live so far away from the roots of crime they need never worry.

[JesseHousman]

NO. It takes village idiots like parents that don't care where their kids are late at night.

They're out raising hell and terrorizing the locals.

I'd rather see the cops round out the curfew offenders than going to their houses to settle domestic disputes and violence. That's the kinds of homes these little candidates for the big house are from.

[tutstar]

It teaches you to look at any authority as a threat. It teaches you to not trust or support law enforcement.

So young kids aren't supposed to have a healthy fear of authority figures, specifically police officers? That's the reason these curfew laws were put in place to begin with. We 'are' a society with too many youth that exhibit total disregard for laws and the authorities who enforce those laws.

[Awestruck]

Just because liberals are bad parents is no excuse for the government to tell me how to parent my children. How about innocent until proven guilty? If the bad seeds commit a crime, arrest and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, but don't assume that everyone out past a certain time is up to no good..plenty of crimes get committed during broad daylight... I've known plenty of daytime crime victims...

[JesseHousman]

Why I'm just awestruck.

Keep your kids home at night.

Even itf they're not potential perps they're walking targets for those who are.

[tutstar]

No the bill of rights doesn't have a disclaimer. There are certain legal rights our society has agreed to grant one to receive when they reach adulthood, the 'rights' associated with adulthood vary from state to state as well the 'privileges'.

Why should a minor have the right to be out in the middle of the night without an adult?