Many young residents and visitors think the curfew in Portsmouth is simply a rumor or a way to ruin their fun.
Two kids found themselves in trouble after a caller reported two suspicious females in his Endicott Avenue Yard at 1:30 am.
Police caught up with a pair of juveniles at Bosner and Kentland. They learned the girls had snuck out of their respective houses.
Police returned them to their parents, advised them of the curfew, and warned them they could be charged as unruly if it happened again.
What is the Curfew in Portsmouth?
Portsmouth has established specific rules through City Ordinance 509.12 for minors who are out in public places. It’s important for adults to understand these regulations to ensure compliance and the well-being of our younger residents. Let’s delve into the details:
- Minors under Fourteen Years:
It is prohibited for any minor under the age of fourteen to loiter, idle, wander, stroll, or play in public streets, places of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots, or unsupervised areas between dusk and dawn.
Exceptions to this rule include minors accompanied by their parent, guardian, or any adult responsible for their care. Additionally, if the minor is engaged in an emergency errand or legitimate business directed by their parent, guardian, or responsible adult, the ordinance does not apply.
- Minors under Eighteen Years:
A curfew is in effect for minors under the age of eighteen. They are not allowed to congregate, loaf, loiter, or be present on public streets of the city during specific hours:
Sundays to Thursdays: Between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Fridays and Saturdays: Between 11:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
However, minors are exempt from this curfew if accompanied by their parent, guardian, or any person acting in the place of a parent.
- Special Functions:
Any school, church, lodge, or organization planning an entertainment event for minors under the age of eighteen that extends beyond the curfew hours must obtain permission from either the Mayor or the Chief of Police.
The application for permission should include details such as the event end time and the names and number of chaperones responsible for supervising the minors.
After the event concludes, minors attending the function must vacate public streets within half an hour.
- Responsibility of Parents and Guardians:
Parents or guardians are legally required to ensure minors under their care do not violate any of the provisions in this ordinance.
So, parents, it’s your legal obligation to make sure that your children follow these rules.
These regulations are in place to ensure minors’ well-being and maintain order within the community. It is important for all adults to be familiar with these rules and to help children follow them.