Milledgeville schedules town hall on potential curfew ordinance
The meeting begins at 5 p.m. September 29 at City Hall. Officials have not released proposed curfew hours or said who it would apply to.
MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The City of Milledgeville will hold a town hall meeting Tuesday, September 29, on a potential curfew ordinance, months after city leaders and police discussed overnight restrictions for children 16 and younger.
According to a public notice, the meeting will begin at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 119 E. Hancock St.
City officials say the meeting will provide information, gather public input and address concerns about the potential ordinance. Residents, business owners and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend.
Curfew previously discussed
In June, 41NBC reported that city leaders and the Milledgeville Police Department were considering a juvenile curfew in response to what they described as an increase in juvenile crime.
The proposal discussed at that time called for a curfew between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and between midnight and 5 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Milledgeville Police Chief Dray Swicord said juveniles caught violating the curfew would receive a warning the first time, while additional violations could result in a fine.
“That’s the whole point of the ordinance is to hold them more accountable, for guardians and parents to be aware of where they’re at,” Swicord said in June. “Because most times the kids we get at night, the parents don’t even know they are gone.”
Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan said at the time that city leaders wanted to protect residents while adding that parents are responsible for their children.
Wednesday’s public notice doesn’t say whether the proposed age limit, hours or enforcement process discussed in June remain unchanged.
Anyone who needs accommodations to participate should contact the City Clerk’s Office at (478) 414-4094 or cchavers@milledgevillega.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.
