Tempers flare on Fort Worth City Council over renewing teen-curfew ordinance
Emotions were high at the Fort Worth city council work session on Tuesday as members debated whether to renew a teenage-curfew ordinance set to expire in February.
The ordinance, first instituted in 1994, prohibits minors from being in public places between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays and midnight to 6 a.m. on weekends.
Council members Jared Williams and Chris Nettles pointed to city data showing the ordinance disproportionately impacts Black teenagers.
Black teens accounted for roughly 40% of citations in 2020 compared to 30% for Hispanic teens and 22% for white teens, according to a city report.
However, the percentage for both white and Hispanic teens increased to around 38% in 2022 compared to 14% for Black teens.
Williams argued the ordinance sets a dangerous precedent by requiring police to stop people they suspect of being underage in order to enforce the ordinance.
He suggested delaying the Feb. 14 vote on renewing the ordinance in order to get more parents involved in the process.
Council member Elizabeth Beck, who represents the city’s urban core, said it takes a village to raise a child.
She noted the ordinance could have helped her with a recent incident in which her teenage daughter decided to take a late night walk to a friend’s house.
Beck suggested changes to the ordinance to address concerns about violations ending up on teenagers’ records.
The city has one public meeting scheduled to discuss the ordinance, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods, 818 Missouri Ave.
Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens suggested adding a second meeting in the Stop Six to give more parents an opportunity to get involved.
The ordinance, which needs to be renewed every three years, was set to expire Jan. 14, but the council extended it to Feb. 15 to allow more time for debate.
This story was originally published January 24, 2023 at 8:53 PM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct remarks made by council member Elizabeth Beck.
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