Sheriff's Deputy Kim Gagnon has noticed a difference since the curfew tookeffect in Cumberland County. She was the first officer to nabviolators-- two girls who snuck out a window and went to a boy's house.
"It turns out the boy had been under house arrest for drug trafficking,which really concerns me," Gagnon says. "The mother came out and pickedup the juveniles and I tried to explain the dangers of being out there."
Under the curfew, kids under 16 have to be home by 11:00 p.m. and staythere until 6:00 a.m. A couple of 15 year olds told WRAL'sRick Gallthey've been obeying the law.
Jernard Grant doesn't like the curfew because his 16 and over friends arestill out when he has to come in. Grant says the parties are barely overby 11:00 p.m.
Jamie Scott has a different opinion. Scott feels like being inside is agood thing because people are always lingering on the streets, and some ofthem are likely to be jumped.
The Cottonade neighborhood has one of the most organized community watchesin the county. The community association voted overwhelming in support ofthe curfew.
Jack Touhey of the Cottonade Association says the community is out to naila very small percentage of kids who are into serious problems, intoserious crime, and into serious trouble.
So far, across the county, deputies have picked up 15 kids for breaking the curfew. It's the sheriff's way of giving parents a helping hand.
The Cumberland County curfew will be law for a year. At that point, thecounty commissioners will review it and decide whether to keep it.
Photographer:Rick Allen
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