SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The movie theater is a popular hangout for teens but in Southaven, MS what time teens hang out could spell trouble. Southaven Police are cracking down on its curfew law. In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 14, 2009 a group of kids were issued citations for standing around outside of the Malco Movie Theater near Airways and Goodman.
Ollie Jefferson’s granddaughter was in that group and was issued a ticket to appear in court next month. Jefferson says she and some other parents who came to pick their kids up didn’t even know Southaven had a curfew. Jefferson says, “One of the guys said this is bogus because none of the parents from Memphis knew about the curfew law.”
She adds, “That’s the closest movie to Whitehaven and a lot of our kids go down there. So it’s very important that the people know about it.”
According to Southaven Police, any child 17 years old or younger should be inside between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. from Sunday through Thursday. The curfew for minors is 12:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Police say if a child is found guilty of breaking the city’s curfew and it’s their first offense they could get a fine of $25 to $100. On the second offense, the fine is $50-$250. Third time offenders get fined $100 to $500. If a kid is caught breaking the rules a fourth time, they could be fined $500 to $1,000.
Police say after the fourth offense, officers will go after the child’s family or guardian. The adult will be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and could face up to one year in the county jail.
