Minors under the age of 18 and their parents living in Two Rivers are reminded by Police Chief Brian Kohlmeier are reminded to home by a certain hour.
“Anybody under 18 years of age is supposed to be at their residence or indoors between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on weekdays and midnight and 5:00 a.m. on weekends. “ He added, “If they’re out and about, there could be a curfew violation.”
Kohlmeier says the curfew instituted in the mid-’90s came out of necessity.
“We were dealing with a lot of young kids in the early morning hours, and it was almost like we were their parents, to some extent!” Kohlmeier elaborated, “Working third shift, we’d go home, they’d go home, we’d go to sleep, they’d go to sleep, and we’d be back out again at night chasing them from one side of town to another.”
He said, “There was a need for a curfew so it was put into place.”
The parameters for violators were laid out by the chief, “We start out by issuing a written warning. Warnings are always first.” What’s next? “If there’s a second offense, that could be a citation depending on the offense.”
The parents could start feeling the heat if the behavior continues. “A third violation is where the parents may be held responsible and the parents could receive a citation.”
Exceptions include someone that is coming home from a school-related function. The chief says parent notifications are issued at every level, so communication is clear to who law enforcement is in contact with.
Kohlmeier adds the problem is not nearly as big as it was 30 years ago, but that the ordinance will remain on the books for the foreseeable future.
