Police enforce teen curfew in Miami

The city of Miami Police Department is enforcing a teen curfew in an effort to keep children safe. The stepped-up enforcement effort started Wednesday.

The Juvenile Curfew Ordinance makes it unlawful for any person under the age of seventeen to linger, stay, congregate, move about, wander, or stroll in any public place in Miami-Dade County, either on foot or in a vehicle during curfew hours. Curfew hours are 11 p.m., through 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. Curfew hours on Friday and Saturday are 12 a.m., through 6 a.m.

A juvenile under the age of 17 is legitimately exempted from the restrictions of the Miami-Dade County Juvenile Curfew Ordinance if the juvenile:

• Is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or by someone 21 years of age or older that has permission to be responsible for the juvenile

• Is working, or traveling to or from work

• Is traveling interstate

• Has written permission from a parent or guardian to run an errand

• Is aiding or assisting in an emergency

• Is traveling to or from a school, religious, civic, or county-sponsored event

• Is emancipated by marriage or court order

• Is homeless

• Is exercising First Amendment rights

• Is on the property of his/her residence, or a neighbor’s residence if the neighbor does not object

• Is attending or returning from a public event which began before 10:00 p.m. and has written permission

• Is authorized by the County Commission