It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your children are? That question—though cliche —was addressed by the Guadalupe City Council during its Aug. 26 meeting.
The council directed city staffers to change the current 11 p.m. curfew written into city code to an hour earlier. The curfew would last from 10 p.m. to sunrise the next day. Exceptions are made for minors accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The proposal was presented to the council at the request of Mayor Lupe Alvarez, and was supported by all council members present. Councilman Ariston Julian was absent.
The decision to change the curfew follows in the wake of two violent crimes that occurred last month, including the Aug. 9 assault of a Guadalupe police officer and a 20-year-old police Explorer scout, and the fatal stabbing of a 24-year-old Santa Maria resident on Aug. 16. That death marks the city’s first homicide in 17 years.
The new curfew coincides with Santa Barbara County’s curfew, which lasts from 10 p.m. to sunrise the next day, and 11 p.m. during daylight savings time.
First-time violators of the ordinance face a $100 fine and/or 10 hours of community service. The numbers double for a second violation and increase to a $250 fine and 25 hours of community service for a third violation.
This article appears in Sep 4-11, 2008.