Teen crime in the city has steadily increased over the last four years. In 2005, there were 378 arrests, in 2008, 592 and so far this year, 503 arrests.
A new law has been proposed to keep teens off the streets late at night and holding their parents responsible.
By keeping teens off Tuscaloosa streets between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on school nights, Tuscaloosa's police chief believes it will be better for the teens and better for the community as a whole.
At the Cobb Theatre in Tuscaloosa, today was a busy day with several new films attracting long lines, but after 8:30 at night, you won't find teens here unsupervised. The change in theatre policy has cut down on that problem and it's what Tuscaloosa's police chief wants to do for the entire city.
Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steven Anderson said, “To cut down on the rate of victimization for juveniles of crime and also deter juveniles from committing crime by having them in the house by a certain time."
Police Chief Anderson said a curfew law would also help right here on the Strip near the University of Alabama. The main intent of a teen curfew law:- keep teens and the community safe and hold parents accountable for where their teens aren't - at home.
Chief Anderson said, "Too many people in our society want to be friends to their children versus being parents."
The proposed teen curfew law is getting mixed reviews.
James Perry, who favors the ordinance, said, "I think it would do a world of good for them to have it here because it'll keep our teens out of the streets late at night and its so much trouble out there in the streets so."
Stacey Summerville, who opposes the ordinance, said, "I think they have the right mindset and they're trying to keep everyone safe, but I do think it would be up to the parents as to when their own children, what they can do after hours."
In the end, it'll be up to Tuscaloosa's city council to follow in the footsteps of other cities like Birmingham that enforce a teen curfew.
If enacted there will be exceptions. They will be for teens who are attending religious or school events, are with their parents, going to and from work and 17 years old, attending college.
The proposed Tuscaloosa teen curfew law was just presented to the city council safety committee this past week. City officials hope to have it in place next spring.
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