PRESS RELEASE:
After recent events of large congregations of unruly juveniles, Kansas City Police want to remind parents about local laws and tips for ensuring your child doesn’t get caught up in illegal activity.
Laws
• Curfew for children under the age of 18 is Midnight to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
• If there is a curfew violation, the juvenile will be detained, and a parent or guardian must respond to pick them up, and the parent will be issued a citation.
Tips
• Know your child’s social network. Monitor their Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or other social media accounts and watch what they’re texting.
• Parents should be aware of a new trend called “Flash Mobs.” This is when a large group gathers quickly – usually through the use of social media. Sometimes it can be for something fun like a choreographed public dance, but more recently, it has been for the purpose of causing chaos by stampeding, assaulting bystanders, and damaging property. This can be a very dangerous event and a public safety issue for young persons.
• When dropping your child off, it is your responsibility to know where they are going and what they are doing.
Kansas City Police will have a large presence on the Country Club Plaza this weekend and will strictly enforce all municipal and state laws. The police response will be mobile in case an unruly crowd congregates elsewhere in the city.
If you hear of a group organizing an event that could get out of hand, please call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
