Published: September 06, 2008 10:40 pm         

Curfew

Crackdown might curb vandalism

A story last week offered both good news and bad news in the city’s fight against vandalism.

The good news is that Logansport police have begun to crack down on curfew violations. The bad news is that few local stores have responded to the mayor’s request that they make spraypaint harder for kids to get their hands on.

Still, we were glad to see the police department taking action. In their first weekend of late-night patrols, officers arrested 34 juveniles.

The arrests should have provided a wake-up call to parents who not only had to retrieve their kids from police custody, they’re also in line for a $50 fine. And if the kids keep getting caught, the fines will double and then double again.

To be arrested for a curfew violation, a child under the age of 16 had to be out after 10 o’clock at night. Surely, no reasonable parent really thinks a 12-year-old kid ought to be on the street at that hour, but two 12-year-olds were among those picked up.

The arrests also included seven 13-year-olds, seven 14-year-olds and six 15-year-olds.

The rules offer somewhat more slack for 16- and 17-year-olds. They need to be in by 11 o’clock on week nights and by midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The idea here is that kids on the street late at night are probably up to no good, and you don’t have to look far to see what some of these adolescents have been doing.

Police reports this summer have been filled with instances of vandalism. Houses and garages marred by graffiti. Pools slashed. Cars damaged. The list goes on and on.

The police department’s no-nonsense policy on curfew comes at the suggestion of the mayor. Unfortunately, a second suggestion from the mayor has been less well received.

Fincher said few businesses had responded to his request that they make spraypaint harder for kids to get their hands on. He suggested taking the paint off the shelves and perhaps keeping it under lock and key.

Stores really ought to be willing to go along with that suggestion, but if they won’t, the city council should pass an ordinance requiring them to do so.

This community should not tolerate graffiti.

The crackdown on curfew violations might well pay dividends, but the city shouldn’t stop there.

It’s time to send a message that Logansport is a graffiti-free zone.