H-3237              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2750

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Tate, Crane, Padden, Smith, Walker, Moyer, Youngsman, Chandler, Winsley, Bowman, D. Sommers and McLean

Read first time 1/19/90 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to juvenile curfews; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.01 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that it is the right and responsibility of adults to provide guidelines for acceptable behavior of youth.  Community-established curfew hours provide guidelines for appropriate behavior and can benefit and protect youth and strengthen families.  Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to enable local communities to establish reasonable curfews that are effective within their localities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:

          Any city or town may enact a curfew ordinance prohibiting minors age sixteen or under from being in, on, remaining in, or remaining on any public place open to the public between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.  The ordinance shall not apply when:

          (1) The minor is accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a person twenty-one years or older who is authorized by the minor's parent or legal guardian to accompany the minor;

          (2) The minor is traveling by direct route to or from a religious activity, political activity, or an event sponsored by a school;

          (3) The minor is in a motor vehicle and engaged in interstate travel with consent of parent or legal guardian through the state;

          (4) The minor is traveling by direct route to or from his or her place of employment, provided employment shall not mean any activity or business conducted in violation of the laws of the state or its political subdivisions;

          (5) The minor is on the sidewalk of his or her legal residence or on the sidewalk of either next door neighbor; or

          (6) The minor is involved in an emergency concerning his or her safety or welfare or that of his or her family.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 36.01 RCW to read as follows:

          Any county may enact a curfew ordinance prohibiting minors age sixteen or under from being in, on, remaining in, or remaining on any public place open to the public between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.  The ordinance shall not apply when:

          (1) The minor is accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a person twenty-one years or older who is authorized by the minor's parent or legal guardian to accompany the minor;

          (2) The minor is traveling by direct route to or from a religious activity, political activity, or an event sponsored by a school;

          (3) The minor is in a motor vehicle and engaged in interstate travel with consent of parent or legal guardian through the state;

          (4) The minor is traveling by direct route to or from his or her place of employment, provided employment shall not mean any activity or business conducted in violation of the laws of the state or its political subdivisions;

          (5) The minor is on the sidewalk of his or her legal residence or on the sidewalk of either next door neighbor; or

          (6) The minor is involved in an emergency concerning his or her safety or welfare or that of his or her family.