Curfew Law Argument

Curfew Law

There are many laws passed in today's society that have a foundation for protecting our youth. Of course, many of these laws are a target for controversy, but one these laws seems to have found itself at the top of the list. This law, in many peoples opinion, is a direct violation of our rights as American citizens. Some believe that this is a gateway law that gives the government the ability to become even more overbearing and suppressing to society in general. However, there are also people that feel that this law is vital to the well being of our communities. The law that I speak of is called a curfew law. It provides a community with the power to regulate what time minors have to be off the streets and in their homes. There is no individual reason that provides a firm foundation for the passing of this law, but rather complaints by citizens that choose Claremore's youth to be a scapegoat for this city's problems. Unfortunately, I've been under this law's jurisdiction myself because it came into affect just after I became a teenager. Therefore I've been on both sides of the fence and I'm here to say that I do not agree with this law because it is violates my rights, it gives the police more grounds to do what they want despite what people might expect and it causes Claremore's youth to go some places that are a lot more dangerous than their home town just so they can hang out with their friends. I mind you, I am now nineteen years of age and a two- year escapee from the penitentiary this law confines teenagers in.

We know you (our parents and other adults in Claremore that agree with the curfew law) didn't grow up in the same conditions we have to grow up in, but this is what we've been raised in. We know what to expect when we go out at night. We know what kind of people and dangers that are out there. If you are worried that we are going to cause trouble then you must not trust us very much. I know that there are kids out there that do nothing but cause trouble, but never the less that does not mean every other teenager in that community should be punished. To a teenager a curfew law is just another reason for police to pull you over at night. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, it is also another way for the city to make money. Considering that each issued curfew ticket is $122, they eventually add up to a nice sum of money. I know how much they cost because I've received one in the past. I was coming back from Walmart one Friday night when I was seventeen years old. It was 3:00 a.m. and I was driving a black Eagle Talon sports car. The windows on the vehicle were tinted very dark, so there is no way the officer could have seen my friend or I in the vehicle. We were neither speeding nor driving recklessly, so there was no reason for the officer to pull us over. He saw a black sports car on a Friday night and just assumed there were teenagers in it doing something illegal.

To most adults this law is just fine. This is because you have never had to experience its control and because it doesn't affect you at all. That is unless one of your sons or daughters receive a ticket. Try to imagine for a moment that you are in our position. For example, take a regular away-high school football game in which your team are the visitors. You want to go watch your best friends play but you know that you won't get back in time to make the curfew, or say your seventeen and you want to go to a movie on a Friday night, but unless your back home before 1:30 a.m. your libel to be charged with a curfew violation because the community doesn't think we are responsible enough to go to a late movie. I realize these examples seem unrealistic but I am using them because I've had friends that have received curfew citations for these very reasons.

The youth of this community represent Claremore with great character, achievement scholastically and athletically as well. We pay our tickets whether they are justified or not. We abide by all of this city's regulations just the same as adults do. We constantly listen to advice and critiques that this city gives us assuming that it will make us better people and upstanding citizens. The fact is everyone is so busy commenting or giving us advice that no one ever listens to what we have to say. In fact, this display of behavior is disrespectful and quite rude. Of course, there are exceptions to this statement, but they are few and far between. We know that you all have much more experience in life than we do, but you must realize that we are not you. We have been raised in much more complicated times. Therefore, we have adjusted as well. We know you used to be able to sleep with the doors and widows unlocked at night and everyone knew everyone, but times have changed and we are a mere product of that change. We know what the difference between good and bad is as well as what kind of people to hang out with. You say that