LEETONIA Police note reduction in juvenile curfew violations

Village council will consider amending the juvenile curfew ordinance to stiffen fines.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Police Chief John Soldano said police are receiving fewer juvenile-related calls because parents are being more responsible for their children's behavior.
Soldano put out a plea in August for parents to be more involved with their children, to be more aware of their activities and more strict about curfews.
Through June, July and August, there were on average about two calls per night about juveniles' violating curfew.
Juveniles were running through neighborhoods and making 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.
"I work the night shift sometimes and I made a few of those calls myself," Soldano said. "A few times when I called parents, they said their children were in bed. I said, 'No, they're in my office.'"
Soldano said now the department receives about one curfew violation call each week.
He said the fact that juveniles are now back in school and the weather is cooler are also factors, but parents have taken a firmer hand.
He said Leetonia's curfews are the standard for Columbiana County: 10 p.m. weeknights and 11 p.m. weekends for juveniles younger than 16; and 11 p.m. weeknights and midnight weekends for 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds.
Parents responsible
When juveniles are caught out after curfew they are turned over to their parents and the parents are warned. The parents could also be cited into mayor's court.
Soldano said although the department did not cite any parents for curfew violations this summer, he is still working on stiffening the fines.
He said that Wednesday village council will consider amending the curfew ordinance to increase fines.
The current ordinance has been in effect since the 1950s and the fines, which range from $10 to $25, reflect that.
Soldano stressed that the main reason for curfews is the safety of children. Although the juveniles out after curfew have not been involved in any crimes, the potential is there when juveniles are unsupervised long after curfew.