City council approves 9 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied juveniles in Bricktown; ordinance includes exceptions
Oklahoma City Council approved lowering the curfew for the Bricktown Entertainment District from 11 p.m. to 9 p.m. for people younger than 18 who are unaccompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.
The curfew, which takes effect today, begins at 9 p.m. and ends at 6 a.m., seven days a week and includes Bricktown and Lower Bricktown to the Oklahoma River.
“This ordinance does not affect unattended minors who are at work, or who are going directly to and from work, or who are on their way to or from an event such as a movie or ballgame in Bricktown,” said Assistant City Manager Jason Ferbrache. “If the event ends after 9 p.m. minors are not allowed to hang out in the district unattended. The intent of the curfew is safety.”
The earlier curfew is supported by the Bricktown Association Board.
The Bricktown curfew requires police officers to ask the juvenile’s age and reason for being in the area before taking enforcement action. It also provides exceptions to enforcement including, but not limited to, when the juvenile:
- is with a parent or responsible adult
- is working or returning to or from work
- Is attending, going to, or returning home from an event such as a ball game or movie
- is going to or returning home from an official school, religious, or recreational activity supervised by adults
- is involved in an emergency
The citywide curfew for minors is from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Mon. – Fri and 1 a.m. – 6 a.m. Sat. - Sun.
Violators are subject to a class “a” offense, which requires a mandatory court appearance in Oklahoma City Municipal Juvenile Court.
The ordinance was scheduled for a public hearing on Feb. 28 and vote on March 14 but was passed by emergency at the Feb. 28 meeting.