All juveniles in Hopewell face new 11 p.m. curfew

All juveniles in Hopewell are now facing an 11 p.m. curfew.

City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to require that anyone 17 or younger be accompanied by a parent -- or be at home -- by 11 p.m.

The new curfew took effect immediately.

Minors are exempt if they are at work or attending religious ceremonies or other meetings sponsored by public schools or organizations such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.

Previously, Hopewell teens younger than 16 had a 10 p.m. curfew and 17-yearolds had a midnight curfew.

The change "gives our police department more tools in their toolbox," said Vice Mayor N. Gregory Cuffey.

Prior to the meeting, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia sent a letter to Hopewell city officials asking for seven amendments to the curfew.

Council members agreed to three of the amendments making minors exempt if they are involved in an emergency; if they are going to or returning home from a place of employment; or if they are on the sidewalk directly abutting a place where they live.

"The amendments significantly improve the ordinance, and we are pleased that they chose to add the amendments," said Kent Willis, executive director of the ACLU of Virginia.

City Council began looking at adjusting the curfew after a rash of criminal activity, such as vandalism, being committed by minors during the summer, Cuffey said. They researched curfew laws in other localities and consulted with Hopewell Police Chief Steven D. Martin.

"We weren't trying to restrict them of their rights," Cuffey said.

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .