With school out and efforts to reduce large crowds gathering, Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson said his department will be stepping up the enforcement of the town's curfew ordinance that restricts the times minors under the age of 19 can be out in public.
“This is to protect our kids and keep them off the road late at night,” Thompson said. “Now it is very important, especially with the current issues with minors being out of school. Our officers will be strictly enforcing this ordinance to help ensure the safety of our community's children.”
The ordinance, which was passed by the Flomaton Town Council in 1998, sets curfew hours for people under the age of 19 from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday. There's technically not a curfew on Friday nights since minors can be out until 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
According to the ordinance, a minor commits an offense if he or she remains in any public place or on the premises of any establishment during the curfew hours.
Thompson also noted a parent or guardian of a minor commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, or by insufficient control, allows the minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the curfew hours.
Owners, operators and employees of any establishment in Flomaton also commit an offense if they knowingly allows a minor to remain on the premises during the curfew hours.
There are several exceptions that include a minor being accompanied by his or her parent or guardian.
Other exceptions include in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel; engaged in an employment activity or going to work or returning home without any detour or stop; involved in an emergency situation; on the sidewalk abutting the minor's residence or abutting the residence of a next door neighbor; and to attend school or religious activities supervised by adults.
Thompson said people can go to the Flomaton Police Department's Facebook page and find a link to read the entire ordinance.
