Columbia Falls works to reinstate youth curfew

Northwest MontanaNews Network

Starting next year, Columbia Falls youths will have to be home by 11 p.m.

The Columbia Falls City Council on Monday voted to reinstate a curfew ordinance. Under the curfew, those under age 18 are prohibited from being in public places between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The council heard no comments on the issue from the public. 

Councilwoman Julie Plevel expressed some hesitation in passing the curfew.

“The more I think about this, the more I wonder why we’re doing this,” she said.

She asked if the police department had the staff to handle enforcing the curfew.

Police Chief Dave Perry said the department is equipped to deal with the curfew.

“It’s a public safety issue. What legitimate reason does a kid have to be out past 11 p.m.?” he said. “We’ve noticed a lot of kids running around ungoverned.”

Perry said that officers wouldn’t be searching for children out after the curfew, rather the ordinance would give officers the ability to contact parents if the child is found.

The ordinance allows children to be out past the curfew if accompanied by an adult. Children also are allowed to be out if attending religious or school activities and if they are traveling to or from such events.

“They can go to and from a legitimate purpose,” Perry said. “They can’t be hanging out standing in front of Town Pump at 11 p.m.”

Officers can’t stop those driving vehicles solely for violating the curfew, he noted. Only children who are walking, riding bicycles or similar will be stopped by officers.

Council member Doug Karper said he understands the hesitation but also the importance of the curfew.

“If you use it with discretion you’re not going to have the police looking for kids,” he said. “It gives you the ability to get a kid off the street that doesn’t need to be there at 2 or 3 a.m.”

Council member Mike Shepard pointed to a number of car break-ins recently after midnight on Crescent Drive. Teenagers are mostly likely the ones who did the break-ins. He said he frequently see teens out in the middle of the night in his neighborhood.

A first violation of the curfew will result in police contacting the child’s parents. On the second offense, the child is sent to Youth Court.

The council passed the ordinance unanimously. Council member Dave Petersen was absent from the meeting.

The city will not sound the fire siren to signal the curfew. In the past the siren was set off to coincide with the curfew time. The city last had a curfew about two years ago.

The council is expected to approve a second reading of the ordinance in January. Thirty days after that approval, the ordinance will go into effect.