Baltimore City Considers Earlier Curfew Plan

Kids in Baltimore City may soon need to be home earlier at night. A new proposal is on the table for a stricter curfew in the city.

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The current curfew for children in the city of Baltimore is midnight on weekends and 11 p.m. on weekdays. Now Councilman Brandon Scott has proposed legislation to make it earlier.

Young people tore into a 7-Eleven in upper Fells Point around midnight in February. City leaders are trying to stop teens involved in incidents like that.

“We don’t want kids to harm anyone [or] to be harmed themselves,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

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Scott is proposing the city change its curfew to a tiered system based on age. Under the new proposal, children under the age of 14 would need to be home by 9 p.m. Teens between the ages of 14 and 16 would have to be off the streets by 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends and during the summer.

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Officials hope an earlier bedtime may mean a more productive day at school.

A curfew violation could cost a parent a $500 fine. That fine could be waived if the family completes counseling.

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