Devin Golden

Staff reporter

dgolden@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

    ELBERTA, Ala. - A proposed ordinance to enact a curfew each night at 11 p.m. for children under 17 years old was not passed by the Elberta Town Council at the June 21 meeting.

    Interim Elberta Police Chief Julie Joyner proposed the ordinance, but the council did not make the motion to vote on it, Mayor Marvin Williams said.

    "It's a good ordinance, but the council is not ready to pass that ordinance at this time," Williams said.

    The proposed ordinance stated, "It shall be unlawful for any minor child under the age of 17 years to loiter, idle, wander, stroll or to drive or ride in an automobile, or play in or upon the public streets, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places and public buildings of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots or other unsupervised places, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m."

    The ordinance was proposed as a deterrent to teenagers loitering in the town at late hours., and Joyner felt it was needed.

    "We were having car thefts late at night and damages to schools," she said. "Just kids hanging around at 1 and 2 in the morning."

    Williams said the ordinance could "be tweaked" and come before the council again because it was not voted down.

    "The consensus I got is they want us to re-word it and re-propose it," Joyner said, noting she also had some issues with the ordinance, such as the age being under 17 years old instead of under 18 years old.

    "I, sitting in the chair, had stated to the council and members of the audience I would be abstaining because I had mixed emotions about it," Williams said. "The council just is not comfortable with the decision to go forward with it."

    Williams mentioned town liability and police parenting as two reasons he had mixed emotions about beginning a curfew.

    "My personal opinion on that particular ordinance is parents need to raise their children," he said. "Police shouldn't be patrolling their children."

    The proposed ordinance also stated it would be unfalwful for the parent, guardian or adult person having custody of the minor to knowingly allow the child to be found in violation of the curfew.

    Joyner said parents should be held accountable if they are letting their children "wander around in the middle of the night.

    "Our concern is not putting everyone in jail. Our concern is the safety of the kids and safety of the town itself," she said.

    Joyner was named the interim chief March 7 following former police chief Mickey Pledger's arrest. Williams said there is no timeline for naming Joyner or someone else the permanent chief and he is happy with the job she has done thus far.