Eight cited for violating curfew

By Mark Tower
Jun. 4, 2010    ·    7:13 p.m.

Eight juveniles were cited Thursday night during an operation by Ypsilanti Police officers enforcing the city's curfew ordinance, which forbids anyone under the age of 18 from being outside in city limits between 11 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Those cited for violating the ordinance ranged in age from 14 to 17, and two of the individuals were also cited on charges of illegal gambling and tobacco possession.

One juvenile detained by police had an outstanding pick-up order and was lodged at the Washtenaw County Juvenile Detention Center in Ann Arbor. The other seven youths cited were released to parents, guardians or adults siblings, the YPD reported.

Ypsilanti Police said they are planning further operations to enforce the ordinance, which also holds parents or guardians responsible for preventing juveniles from violating the city's curfew. The YPD previously held a similar curfew enforcement operation, also on a Thursday evening, in early May.

There are exceptions in the ordinance if the minor is accompanied by someone with legal custody for the individual, or if the minor is on the street because of a job or an errand for their parent or guardian. Penalties could be assigned to the juveniles based on the decision of the juvenile court to which YPD refers curfew violations.