Late Night Teen Brawl Prompts San Angelo Police to Remind Residents There Is a Juvenile Curfew

SAN ANGELO – A late night fight including several teens who were out after curfew ended with several of them arrested earlier this week and now San Angelo Police are reminding parents and teens there is a curfew and it is being rigorously enforced.  

In a social media post Wednesday, the San Angelo Police Department said it would like to remind the public of the "Juvenile Curfew Ordinance" as we have come across minors (anyone under 17 years of age) who have recently been in violation of this ordinance since summer has started. 

So who gets in trouble for violating the ordinance???

-The Parents or Guardians of these minors can be cited if they knowingly permit, or by insufficient control, allow the minor(s) to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours.

Is the Ordinance enforced just during the summer months?

-The ordinance is enforced year round but we tend to have more violations during the summer months. 

What is the definition of a public place???

-The definition of a public place is any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access and includes, but is not limited to, streets, highways, and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities, and shops.

What does the ordinance state and what are the curfew hours???

-It shall be unlawful for any minor to knowingly remain, walk, run, stand, drive or ride about, in or upon any public place in the city between the hours of:

(1)11:00 p.m. Sunday evening and 6:00 a.m. Monday morning;

(2)11:00 p.m. Monday evening and 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning;

(3)11:00 p.m. Tuesday evening and 6:00 a.m. Wednesday morning;

(4)11:00 p.m. Wednesday evening and 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning;

(5)11:00 p.m. Thursday evening and 6:00 a.m. Friday morning;

(6)12:01 a.m. Saturday morning and 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning;

(7)12:01 a.m. Sunday morning and 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning.

What are some of the exceptions of the ordinance???

-Some exceptions to the ordinance are:

1) Accompanied by the minor's parent or guardian;

2) On an errand at the direction of the minor's parent or guardian, 

without any detour or stop;

3) In a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel;

4) Engaged in a employment activity, or going to or returning home from an employment activity, without any detour or stop;

5) Involved in an emergency;

6) On the sidewalk abutting the minor's residence or abutting the residence of a next-door neighbor if the neighbor did not complain to the police department about the minor's presence;

7) Attending an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the city, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor, or going to or returning home from, without any detour or stop, an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the city, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor;

8.) Exercising First Amendment rights protected by the United States Constitution, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, and the right of assembly;

9) Married or had been married or had disabilities of minority removed in accordance with chapter 31 of the Texas Family Code; 

We ask that the Public do their part to prevent violations of the "Juvenile Curfew Ordinance" by reporting violations of the ordinance and by also not allowing your children to be in a public place (without an exception) during the curfew hours.