This bill would create a curfew for minors which means that no person under the age of 18 would be allowed to be or remain in a public place between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. “Public place” is any place to which the public has access, including streets, highways, public parks and common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transportation facilities and shops.
For a first offense, a violator would be required to remove litter from highways or public parks or work in a recycling center for ten hours. For a second violation, the punishment would be the community service, as described above, for a total of 40 hours. For a third or subsequent violation, the punishment would be 100 hours of community service and loss of driving privileges in Tennessee for one year.
The parent or guardian of an offending minor would be subject to the same number of hours of community service as the minor, or to the imposition of a $50.00 fine.
A curfew violation would not occur if the minor is in a public place during the prescribed hours and:
(1) Is accompanied by the minor’s parent, guardian or authorized adult custodian; (2) Is attending or traveling directly to or from an activity involving the exercise of first amendment rights; (3) Is involved in an emergency, or is on an emergency errand for the minor’s parent or guardian; (4) Is at, going directly to, or returning directly from, lawful employment; (5) Is returning directly home from a school, religious or civic function; (6) Is on the property or sidewalk of the minor’s place of residence, or on a next door neighbor’s sidewalk or property with the neighbor’s permission; or (7) Is in a motor vehicle with parental consent for interstate travel, or for bona fide intrastate travel.
The provisions of this bill would be in effect in any county where a two-thirds majority vote of the county legislative body adopts it.
ON APRIL 6, 1995, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1, #2, #3, AND #4, AND RESET HOUSE BILL 1231 AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 removes Hancock and Hawkins counties from the provisions of this bill.
AMENDMENT #2 removes Loudon and Blount counties from the provisions of this bill.
AMENDMENT #3 removes Davidson County from the provisions of this bill.
AMENDMENT #4 removes Williamson County from the provisions of this bill.
ON APRIL 20, 1995, THE HOUSE RE-REFERRED HOUSE BILL 1231 TO CALENDAR AND RULES COMMITTEE.