Countywide Curfew Proposal Generates Controversy

From Potomac Village to the Montgomery County Council, the proposed teen curfew is generating controversy.

The curfew, proposed by County Executive Isiah Leggett in response to , would be in effect for teens under the age of 18. It would run from midnight to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the rest of the week.

“Sounds great to me,” said Park Potomac resident Elizabeth Levin when asked what she thought.

According to a July 11 memorandum from Leggett that introduced the proposed legislation, a curfew would “protect the welfare of minors” in a variety of ways that include shielding them from the influence of criminal acts performed by others and aiding parents in “their responsibility to exercise reasonable supervision of minors entrusted to their care.” It would also “protect the general public from juvenile related criminal activity.”

“Potomac doesn’t really have a crime issue,” said Molly Kiniry as she and Elizabeth Axelson, both of Potomac, sat in the courtyard by Starbucks in Potomac Village.

“I think it’s a little ridiculous. I also think it’s up to the parents to parent their kids, not the county,” Kiniry added.

, agree. Awaiting the next step in the passage of the legislation, there is a Facebook page to keep the public aware of the issues and a website devoted to the proposed curfew. 

Burman said that she and the trio of high school and college students who started the website are going to "continue to meet with community leaders and interest groups and reach out to them and the general community to encourage them to really stay involved."

In Potomac Village, Max Devens, director of retail operations at spoke for many of the businesses who felt the proposed curfew would have a minimal effect on them.

When asked about the business impact of a curfew Devens said, “We close at 7 so it won’t impact us.” 

That’s not to say it won’t impact the lives of teens, as Axelson was quick to point out. “Eleven is kind of early,” she said. “If you go to a 9 o'clock movie, you’ll be out later than that.”

Phil Andrews, chair of the Montgomery County Council Public Safety Committee (PSC) expressed his concerns over the proposed curfew in a phone interview.

“The county executive has failed to make a good case for his proposal,” he said.

Andrews is not convinced that the measure will be effective in addressing juvenile issues in the county.

A vote on the proposed legislation is not anticipated before October. A working session of the Public Safety Committee is scheduled for Sept. 15, with at least one more session likely before a vote will be held.

Editor's Note: This article has been corrected. In an earlier version of this story, we incorrectly stated Abigail Burman's city of residence. We regret the error.