The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today altered the juvenile curfew law for unincorporated areas, requiring that youngsters be home by 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
County officials wanted to bring the curfew more in line with the city of San Diego, which calls for youth to be home beginning at 10 p.m. each night of the week.
Law enforcement officials supported the measure as a way to combat gang violence, noting that they've seen juveniles move from San Diego into unincorporated communities like Spring Valley after 10 p.m.
The original proposal before the board was to match the city's curfew for all seven days, but Supervisor Greg Cox said it would penalize teens who socialize after football games and other school social events.
"You're going to penalize the good kids who socialize in a good sense," said Cox, who offered an amendment to maintain the 11 p.m. curfew on weekends. The amendment was supported by colleagues Bill Horn and Ron Roberts.
Many cities in the county have 11 p.m. curfews, Cox said.
The action also brings the county curfew law in line with a recent appellate court ruling that exceptions were needed for youth who were traveling home.
