Underage curfew violators could face $1,000 penalty in Jeannette

Child scofflaws of Jeannette’s 11 p.m. curfew will be facing hefty penalties of up to $1,000 under a revamped proposed ordinance.

Police have been having issues with children out late at night and Chief Donald Johnston and Mayor Curtis Antoniak said the update is needed to address the problem.

The ordinance was last reviewed in 1943.

“We’ve had some noise complaints,” Johnston said. “This summer has been worse than several years past.”

Council could have an initial vote on the matter at its Thursday meeting. The ordinance requires two affirmative votes to be officially on the books before police could begin enforcing it.

The curfew for children 17 and younger is 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The current antiquated ordinance calls for a $10 fine for children and a $25 penalty for adults who permit the child to break curfew. The proposed ordinance carries a fine of $50 to $300 for the first offense; $150 to $500 for the second offense and $250 to $1,000 for third offenses. The fine would apply to a minor or parent.

Right now, Antoniak said officers aren’t cutting any breaks when they see a child out past curfew.

“They’re trying but they want some teeth in this,” he said.

There are exceptions to the curfew such as if a minor is accompanied by a parent or involved in an emergency, at a neighbor’s home with permission, attending a public, school or religious event or going to or from work, among other reasons.

Council hopes to add ‘no loitering’ signs along Clay Avenue after running into problems with teenagers congregating and jumping into traffic.

“We’ve had issues down there with kids hanging out,” Johnston said.

He plans to review an ordinance related to loitering to see if updates are warranted. That ordinance, last updated in 2006, carries penalties ranging from $50 to $1,000.