Officials: Teens in by twilight, according to curfew

Summer months can prove challenging for parents of teenagers with idle time on their hands, but thankfully, county-imposed curfews can help keep youngsters out of harm’s way and out of trouble.

The summer months can prove challenging for parents of teenagers with idle time on their hands.

“Curfew hours refers to the period from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. the following day every day of the week,” Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Albert Martinez explained.

Many parents set time limits for their kids during the summer, keeping in mind they may want to go to a movie or over to a friend’s house.

“We always set a curfew for our kids when they lived at home,” Menifee resident Sarah Hunter said.  “If they weren’t walking through the door by 10:30 p.m., they were put on restriction.”

She added it only took a couple of restrictions to curb the curfew tardiness.

“Parents should monitor their children and when possible keep them occupied so they don’t become bored,” Deputy Martinez advised, noting that boredom can lead to loitering and troublesome behavior.

“Some options are summer jobs, summer camps, volunteering or even considering becoming a sheriff or police explorer,” he added.

Because malls and movie theaters seem to be places where teens congregate and spend time during the warm summer  months, law enforcement officials plan to be a presence in those areas.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputies conduct regular patrols around parks, malls, and theaters in an effort to reduce crime and maintain the safety of the citizens, including children out of school for the summer, Deputy Martinez said.

“We were at the mall in Temecula the other night and there were tons of kids sitting around and yelling out at people walking by,” Jerry Miller said. “We were alarmed and wondering where their parents were.”

Law enforcement officials encourage parents to keep their kids in after 10 p.m., unless they are accompanied by an adult, and to educate their children regarding safety through the summer months.

Stephanie D. Schulte is a writer/photographer with SWRNN.  She can be reached at stephanie.schulte@swrnn.com.