Tampa City Council Gives Initial Approval to Proposed Citywide Juvenile Curfew

TAMPA, Fla.— The first reading of a proposed citywide juvenile curfew has received approval from the Tampa City Council.

The mayor and business owners are concerned about the perception of a mass shooting in Ybor City, and they want to restore a sense of safety to the historic district.

In November, the Tampa City Council explored the option of closing businesses in Ybor at 1:00 a.m., but faced strong opposition from business owners.

Closing businesses has been ruled out. However, last month, Tampa City Attorney Andrea Zelman introduced a different idea.

“The one exception to that is that Florida statutes expressly allow for a juvenile curfew,” she said.

On the agenda for Thursday is a proposal for a citywide juvenile curfew. Bar owners stated that the issues are not occurring within their establishments.

The curfew would apply to individuals under 16 years old.

From Sunday to Thursday, these minors would be prohibited from being in public places in Tampa between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

On weekends, the curfew would start just after midnight and extend through 6 a.m. Any child under 16 who has been suspended or expelled from school would face stricter restrictions, including not being allowed to remain in a public place, establishment, or within 1,000 feet of a school from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during any school day.

Violating the curfew would result in a written warning for the first offense and a $50 fine for each subsequent violation.

The curfew does not apply to a child who is:

1. Accompanied by their parent or another adult authorized by the parent to have custody.
2. Involved in an emergency or engaged, with parent permission, in an emergency errand.
3. Attending or traveling directly to or from an activity that involves the exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
4. Going directly to or returning directly from lawful employment or in connection with a business, trade, profession, or occupation in which the minor is lawfully engaged.
5. Returning directly home from a school-sponsored function, religious function, or a function sponsored by a civic organization.
6. On the property or sidewalk of the place where the minor resides or on the property or sidewalk of an adult next-door neighbor with that neighbor’s permission.
7. Engaged in interstate or bona fide intrastate travel with the consent of the minor’s parent.
8. Attending an organized event held at and sponsored by a theme park or entertainment complex as defined in Florida Statutes s. 509.013(9).

The full ordinance can be found below.