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Rahm Expands Curfew to Anyone Under 18, Unmoved by Effect on H.S. Seniors

By Ted Cox | September 10, 2014 6:00pm
 Mayor Rahm Emanuel said, "Safety is primary" on the city's curfew, even for upperclassmen in high school.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said, "Safety is primary" on the city's curfew, even for upperclassmen in high school.
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DNAinfo/Ted Cox

CITY HALL — The mayor proposed increasing the curfew to anyone under 18, to make it consistent with the state definition of a minor, but said Wednesday he had no concern for its effect on high school upperclassmen.

"It's to be consistent with the change in the state mandate," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said after Wednesday's City Council meeting, referring to changes in state driving laws that apply to those "under 18." "The goal here is to keep kids safe, and they should be indoors, because in later hours they should not be out on the street."

Ted Cox says high school seniors with jobs and those attending weekday school events may have a hard time adhering to the curfew:

The proposed ordinance amendment, submitted at Wednesday's City Council meeting with Ald. Deborah Graham (29th) serving as sponsor, would change language for the curfew to apply to those from 12 through 17, instead of the current 16. It clarifies that "'minor' means any person under 18 years of age."

Emanuel said it was three years ago that he imposed the current curfew, 8:30 p.m. for minors younger than 12 Sunday through Thursday; 10 p.m. for those 12 through 16 Sunday through Thursday; and 11 p.m. for 12-16 on Friday and Saturday. All are effective until 6 a.m. the following day.

At the time, Emanuel said, the city "also increased our enforcement ... and also to bear the responsibility to parents."

Emanuel added, "Parents have the responsibility to make sure they're indoors. ... We need responsible parenting, and we need to hold our parents accountable."

Yet Emanuel was unmoved when asked specifically about the new law's effect on seniors in high school who might not like it. "That may be true," he said, "but they will be safe also, and safety is primary."

The council figures to debate the change ahead of the next meeting, Oct. 8.

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