Jonesboro Enacts Teen Curfew

ONESBORO, Ga. -- Jonesboro teens may be soon be getting home a little earlier than usual.

City officials passed an ordinance Monday that will ticket parents if their child, 16 or younger, is out past 11 p.m.

Jonesboro's Police Chief Franklin Allen told GA Daily News reporter Erica Byfield a new teen club sparked the curfew.

Allen said when the Party Hall One club closed last week, a 16-year-old who fought an officer was arrested.

There have also been reports of fights inside the club.

”It’s packed there. It’s always fights breaking out, 17-year-old Davonte Scott told Byfield.

Allen said the Jonesboro City Council decided it was time to do something.

”I felt like it was a time to be proactive and get ahead of the problem, Allen said.

The new ordinance states, if a child 16 or younger is caught roaming the streets after 11 p.m. and officer can pick them up and bring them to the Jonesboro police headquarters. Once there, their parents will be called and when they arrive, the teen and their parents could both be issued citations.

"The message to the parents is, know what your children are doing. Know where they are," said Allen.

He said enforcement should begin in about 30 days.

At least one Jonesboro parent is happy about the ordinance.

"I think it will keep a lot of crime down and a lot of teen fighting away," said Yavonn Platt.

Allen also said, parents may have to pay a fine and a judge will decide the amount.