LEETONIA Police will crack down on teen curfew violators

The chief wants village council to stiffen fines for curfew violators.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Summer in the village has meant little supervision of juveniles by some area parents, Police Chief John Soldano said.
Soldano said the department has received numerous calls throughout the summer from residents complaining about juveniles out after curfew.
He said usually juveniles caught out after curfew are turned over to their parents and the parents warned. Soldano said, however, that the department has received so many complaints in recent weeks that police must take a firmer hand.
Soldano said in some recent complaints, juveniles were running through neighborhoods and making a lot of noise at 2 or 3 a.m. Then, when police called parents, the parents did not know their children were not in the house, he said.
Enforcing the law
Soldano said although he would prefer that parents keep tighter rein on their children, he will enforce curfew laws.
He also said he will ask village council to stiffen fines for curfew violators.
He said an ordinance in place since 1954 outlines fines for parents of juveniles out after curfew. Soldano said that the fines range from $10 to $25.
The ordinance states police are to give parents a warning on the first violation, then assess fines on subsequent violations. Soldano said he was pleasantly surprised at the detail of the ordinance, but the fines need to be updated.
Soldano said juveniles out after curfew have not been involved in any crimes, but the potential is there. He said he is concerned for the safety of the juveniles unsupervised long after curfew.
Leetonia's curfews, according to Soldano: 10 p.m. weeknights and 11 p.m. weekends for juveniles under 16; and 11 p.m. weeknights and midnight weekends for those 16 to 18.