BRUDERHEIM, Alta. — It's meant to cut down on teenage mischief after dark, but some residents and young people in an Edmonton-area town question whether a new kid curfew will make much difference.
Complaints about property damage and unsupervised children wandering around at night led to the bylaw in Bruderheim, a community of about 1,100.
No one younger than 15 is supposed to be in a public place between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The bylaw says the curfew is for the “health, safety and welfare of such young people.”
Bruderheim Mayor Karl Hauch says the curfew was prompted by nuisance activities such as taking letters off buildings.
But one resident says there's nothing to do in the town, so kids will be kids, and one 16-year-old calls the curfew stupid.
“This is Bruderheim and the kids don’t listen to the rules,” the teen said.
Hauch said no one has been caught breaking the curfew since the bylaw was passed July 6. And, if they do, it will be their parents who have to pay a fine of $100 for the first offence and $200 for the second.
There are exceptions for youth coming from work, volunteer activities or school events. Kids are also allowed to be on the sidewalk directly outside their homes.
Bruderheim is not the first community in the province to bring in such a curfew. Last year, the town of Taber in southern Alberta set “quiet hours” between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. for anyone younger than 16. Taber also has fines for swearing, spitting and yelling.
