(POCOMOKE CITY, Md.) - Pocomoke City Hall proposes a juvenile curfew and asks the community to help in the decision making process.
Neighbors in Pocomoke discuss the potential curfew ordinance at a meeting on Monday, September 19th.
One Pocomoke City resident who chooses to remain anonymous, tells WRDE, "That's violating a person's rights as far I'm concerned. You can't tell someone when to come home, and how are you going to police it."
City Manager, Ernest Crowfoot says the meeting will allow residents to discuss their opinions on the matter. John Dejter works in Pocomoke City and says the curfew would be a smart move. "I think a rule like that would help deter theft and violence in the area if nothing else."
The citywide discussion is being held after recent events. Just last month, two men were arrested after a large fight broke out on Fourth and Laurel Street. However, some think the curfew won't prevent these kinds of things from happening, like David Williams. "The kids they need a positive output, something else the can do, an activity besides just hanging out, and I don't think having a curfew will help. If anything it would just cause more of an issue having the kids and the police clash more."
The proposed curfew is based off a model ordinance that the City of Pocomoke released on its website. Town officials ask the public to read the sample ordinance before coming to the meeting. It includes proposed curfew hours and exceptions to those rules.