The events being cited as the reason why Montgomery County needs a curfew would not have been prevented by the proposed legislation, according to County Councilman Phil Andrews.
Andrews, D-Gaithersburg and chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee, said at a committee meeting Thursday that neither the gathering of 70 youth in Silver Spring over July 4 weekend that led to a stabbing nor the recent flash mob robbery of a 7-Eleven in Germantown would have been prevented under the curfew law proposed by County Executive Ike Leggett.
The first incident began at 10:30 p.m., an hour and a half before the curfew would take effect, Andrews said, and the youth responsible for the 7-Eleven robbery told police they were on their way home from the Montgomery County Fair, which is exempt from the curfew’s restrictions.
But Leggett’s office refuted Andrews’ argument. Although the incident that occurred in Silver Spring in July began before curfew hours, it lasted until long after, said Leggett spokesman Patrick Lacefield.
Proposed as an effort to reduce juvenile crime, the curfew would make it punishable by a $100 fine if anyone under 18 is in a public place between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights or between midnight and 5 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. The bill allows for exceptions, such as being at a job, movie, concert or sporting event.
Both events mentioned by Andrews have been heavily cited by Leggett’s staff and the Montgomery County Police as evidence that the curfew is necessary.
Andrews suggested that since the crimes being targeted aren’t limited to curfew hours, “this is an issue that needs to be addressed in a more targeted way and have the ability to be applied generally, not just in certain hours.”
