DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit city officials are hoping that strengthening the youth curfew ordinance will keep children safe, and help combat crime.
A proposal passed by the Detroit City Council amends the city current ordinance, upping fines for parents of kids who are out after curfew to $250 for the first offense and $500 for a second offense.
Previously, the fines were $75 and $100, respectively, for ticketed parents.
WWJ's Tim Pamplin reports the new rules passed 7-1 in the vote on Tuesday. Gabriela Santiago-Romero's was the only member to vote against it, saying she had concerns about Detroiters being able to pay.
Councilman Coleman A. Young II said accountability is the key here, saying after the vote: “We can’t thrive with 4-year-olds bleeding in the street.”
Speaking at Monday's public meeting on the proposal, Alvin Stokes, president of Citywide Citizens Police Community Relations, noted a curfew for the city's youth is nothing new.
"I'm 65 now, and I have, we've had a curfew for a long time. Lile I said, our curfew was when the street lights came on, we were either in front of the house or on the porch," Stokes said. "We have to do something to hold these parents accountable to their children out here doing stuff that's illegal, you know?"
"Before we had a village," Stokes added. "We don't have that village anymore."
Pastor Maurice Hardwick said some Detroit parents just need to do better.
"Those who oppose this are mothers who are twerking instead of working, and their kids are on gangster rap and hot Cheetos," Hardwick said. "And those who are worried about this are worried about money they ain't put a dime into."
Hardwick thanked Detroit Police Todd Bettison and the City Council for caring about the safety of Detroit kids.
For his part, Chief Bettison said he supports the issuing of these "parental reasonability tickets." He added, however, that when parents go to court the city will seek to embrace these families, finding out what's going on and offering support to both parents and kids.
"This is about helping," Bettison said.
Under Detroit's curfew ordinance, children ages 15 and younger have to be home by 10 p.m., while 16 and 17-year-olds can stay out until 11 p.m.