Prince George's County to Allow Curfew Zones for Businesses

WASHINGTON -- Business owners in Prince George’s County can exclude minors from their property between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. under new local legislation.

The Prince George’s County Council explained the ordinance as a crime-fighting measure.

The law gives business owners a right to ask their local police chiefs to designate areas as juvenile curfew zones.

Council members said they were trying to respond to a rise in carjackings, gun crimes and violence among teenagers. A large fight at the National Harbor shopping destination contributed to their outrage.

Juveniles who violate the curfew could be arrested. Their parents or guardians could be fined $50, $100 or $250 after first, second and third offenses.

The parents or guardians also would be required to repay the county for the time county employees need to remain with detained juveniles that violate curfews.

Police chiefs can designate what the law calls “reasonable geographic boundaries” for the curfew zones.

However, curfew zones will not be granted automatically on request. Business owners must demonstrate “the ability to provide notice to the public of the more restrictive juvenile or minor curfew zone.”

Moreover, they must give the police chiefs “a letter of support from at least one County Council member,” the law says.

The ordinance was opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland. ACLU attorneys said it would fall most heavily on minority juveniles.

For more information, contact The Legal Forum (www.legal-forum.net) at email: [email protected] or phone: 202-479-7240.