Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants 17-year-olds to be included in the city’s curfew law.
Emanuel introduced an ordinance Wednesday to the City Council proposing to extend the nighttime curfew laws for city teens until their 18th birthday.
“I just think that at 17 I’m old enough to understand my own rules,” said city teen Jack Obrien. “I’m going off to college next year I’m going to have to learn anyways.”
Chicago curfew hours are Sunday through Thursday 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
“It’s about policing, it’s about prevention , it’s about stiffer penalties associated with gun crimes and it’s about responsible parenting,” Emanuel said.
City aldermen were skeptical of the change.
“Right now we have a lot of kids out on the street we want to make sure that public safety is first and foremost,” said Ald. Anthony Beale. “I understand where the mayor is going, we’re going to look at it and if we need to tweak it we’ll tweak it in committee.”
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But some young area residents believe the curfew adjustment could be a good idea.
“You’re not an adult yet, legally,” said Giovanni McEastland. “You should be in at a certain time or else there’s nothing going on but bad things.”
