What time should kids be off the streets? Fort Worth considers its curfew ordinance
The city of Fort Worth has scheduled two public meetings to review its curfew ordinance.
The curfew applies to children under 17 between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
State law requires that the ordinance be reviewed and renewed every three years. Hearings are scheduled for Nov. 29 and Dec. 13. The ordinance will expire Jan. 14 without action from the council. It was first adopted in 1994.
A City Council report states there have been 48 curfew filings the past two years, with the majority going to 15- and 16-year-olds in the north side, south side, south Fort Worth and far north Fort Worth.
A report from City Manager David Cooke said authorities have not had problems enforcing the ordinance and that cases are usually resolved in teen court.
“This ordinance is not used often, but it is a good tool for officers in the field to address juvenile-related issues,” Cooke wrote in his report.
This story was originally published November 15, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the dates of the public hearings.
