LARGO, Md. — The Prince George's County Council has approved a resolution allowing for the expansion of youth curfew zones in other parts of the county.
Last week, county executive Angela Alsobrooks issued an executive order establishing a youth curfew in National Harbor. The temporary emergency order allows police to detain unaccompanied juveniles, during the weekends between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. Parents or guardians of that child could also face a fine of more than $250.
Alsobrooks' executive order was in response to over 800 unaccompanied teenagers captured on video fighting, shoplifting, and confronting business owners on Apr. 20.
The county council is taking the curfew one step forward by allowing other business owners in the county to apply for similar zones like the one seen in National Harbor.
"We want to quickly allow other commercial areas in the county to apply for a curfew zone if they feel it’s needed. We want to make sure we’re in partnership with the business community, law enforcement, and the residents of our county who have all been strong supporters of these measures," Prince George's County Council Chair, Jolene Ivey said in a statement.
Under the recently passed resolution, business owners would need to meet certain criteria before applying for a curfew zone, including obtaining a letter of support from the County Council Member who represents the area. The proposed curfew periods cannot begin before 5 P.M. or end later than 5 A.M., and the curfew would not apply to juveniles accompanied by an authorized adult.
WUSA9 spoke with one business owner who is in favor of this legislation moving forward.
“I think it’s something I would definitely do,” store manager, Levon Davis said.
Without a doubt in his mind, Davis said he will apply for the juvenile curfew zone for the jurisdiction where his store is in District Heights.
“It protects the store,” Davis said. “It protects the business.”
Davis is the manager of Super Beauty in a shopping center on Silver Hill Road in District Heights. He tells WUSA9 he doesn’t budge on any of store policies when it comes to teenagers.
“I tell them they not allowed in here,” Davis said. “Customers have been great, business is great, just recently far as the teenagers and the cars and the noise going on weekends, it’s been kind of hectic.”
Prince George's County Police say no citations were issued during the first week of the juvenile curfew enforcement in National Harbor.
"That's exactly what we want. We don't want to be dealing with out-of-control kids. We just want their parents to know where they are and keep them someplace safe," Ivey told WUSA9.
The county council is also considering juvenile curfew legislation that would make the curfew zones a permanent tool for Prince George's businesses.
Davis said he has had to kick unsupervised teens and young kids out of his store during school hours and weekends.
“I think the problem is that in today’s society the parents don’t know where these kids are,” Davis said. “These kids could be doing anything anywhere.”
Members of the council moved forward with a version of the legislation that gives police more authority over the designation and approval of the curfew zones.
"This is not a time when we need to tie the police's hands," Ivey added.
The council voted down two amendments introduced by Councilmember Krystal Oriadha that would set guardrails for the curfew zones. One of the proposals would have established expiration dates on these designated areas.
"Do we want to create a county, that's majority Black and Brown young people, that says anywhere in the county at any given time, don't come out after 5 p.m.," Oriadha said who represents the 7th district.
Oriadha says she would like to strike a balance between safety in the community and the message that is being sent to Prince George's County Youth.
Ivey pushed back on Oriadha's concerns saying the process for businesses to apply for the curfew zones is strict enough.
"They have to present a plan that says why they need it, and where it would be. It can't just be some vague all-over wherever. So it's pretty specific of where it would be because the police have to be able to enforce it," Ivey said.
The council will hold a public comment session with a final vote for the legislation set later in May.
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