10 - Curfew OrdinanceItem No. 10
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro -Tem & City Council
Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Richard W. Salter Jr., Chief of Police
SUBJECT: 8.02.034 CURFEW ORDINANCE REVIEW
DATE: February 14, 2022
BACKGROUND: The City of Paris Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article 8.02, Section
8.02.034 thru 8.02.039 establishes and governs both a day and night time curfew for children of
various ages. In section 8.02.039, a review of the ordinance is required every third year following
the adoption of this ordinance. The action requires the council to review the effect of the article,
conduct a public hearing on the need to continue the article, and to consider continuing, or
modifying the article.
STATUS OF ISSUE: During nocturnal hours children are at greater risk for victimization and/or
becoming involved in delinquent or criminal behavior. The below statistics indicate that the ordinance
is having the desired effect by providing the police department authority to interdict juvenile
involved delinquent activity, thus reducing the likelihood that children will be victims of criminal
acts during established curfew periods.
BUDGET: No anticipated impact to budget.
RECOMMENDATION: Continue the ordinance as presently written.
Total
Tata! Juveniie
Total
Total 1uvenale
Curfebv
Curfew
Juvenile
isturbar�ces
Juvenile
Arrests
Year
Warnings
Cases .Filen
Disturbances
23GC-06M
Arrests
2-1100-0600
2015
5
0
21.4
21
79
14
2017
it
2
173
13
94
9
2015
5
0
195
17
53
4
21119
10
7
231
25
77
12
2020
1
1
158
5
27
2-
2021.
2021
0
0
154
12
48
8
BUDGET: No anticipated impact to budget.
RECOMMENDATION: Continue the ordinance as presently written.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
READOPTING CHAPTER 8, ARTICLE 8.02, DIVISION 2, "CURFEW FOR
CHILDREN," OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE
SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, SEVERABILITY CLAUSE,
SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on April 9, 2001, the City Council of the City of Paris, Texas enacted
Ordinance No. 2001-021, a curfew ordinance for children which is now codified as Chapter
8, Article 8.02, Division 2, of the City of Paris Code of Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 370.002 of the Texas Local Government
Code, the City Council shall conduct a public hearing and review the curfew ordinance
every three (3) years to determine the effect of the ordinance on the community and on the
problems the ordinance was intended to remedy; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has conducted such a review and confirmed and
readopted said Chapter 8, Article 8.02, Division 2, of the Code of Ordinances every three
years since then, most recently in Ordinance No. 2019-008 on February 11, 2019; and
WHEREAS, on February 14, 2022, the City Council conducted a public hearing on
the curfew ordinance and received comments and testimony from the Paris Police
Department and the community about the effectiveness of the curfew ordinance; and,
WHEREAS, the testimony reflected that the curfew ordinance has been effective at
keeping juveniles safe, curbing juvenile crime and reducing gang activity; and,
WHEREAS, based on the comments and testimony received at the public hearing
and other related evidence, the City Council of the City of Paris finds that the curfew
ordinance should be continued, as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby
in all things approved.
Section 2. That Chapter 8, Article 8.02, Division 2, "Curfew for Children," of the
Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas is hereby readopted and confirmed in it's
entirety.
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Section 3. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions
of the ordinances of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance
shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 4. That the repeal of any ordinance or part of ordinances affected by the
enactment of this ordinance shall not be construed as abandoning any action now pending
under or by virtue of such ordinance or as discontinuing, abating, modifying, or altering
any penalty accruing or to accrue, or as affecting any rights of the municipality under any
section or provisions of any ordinance at the time of passage of this ordinance.
Section S. That it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Paris that this
ordinance and every provision hereof, shall be considered severable, and the invalidity or
partial invalidity of any section, clause, or provisions of this ordinance shall not affect the
validity of any other portion of this ordinance.
Section 6. This ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage and
publication as required by law.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 14th day of February, 2022.
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney
Paula Portugal, Mayor
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