Waxahachie PD reminds residents of youth curfew

Photo courtesy City of Waxahachie.

WAXAHACHIE — With the summer break approaching, the Waxahachie Police Department is reminding parents and teenagers of the Curfew Ordinance the City of Waxahachie (Section 21-82) has in place.

Curfew hours begin 11 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday until 6 a.m. of the following day; and 12:01 am on Friday and Saturday until 6 a.m. of the following day.

This means persons who are under the age of 17 cannot be in any public place, or be on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours. Parents or guardians of minors commit an offense if they knowingly permit, or by insufficient control, allow the minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours. Owners and/or operators of establishments within the city also commit an offense if they knowingly allow a minor to remain upon the premises during curfew hours.

There are some exceptions to this rule. If the minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or on an errand at the direction of the parent or guardian, no offense is committed. The errand exception mandates that you do it without any detour. The curfew ordinance also allows a minor to travel to and from their place of employment. Once again, the minor must travel to and from work without detour. The curfew also allows for exceptions of emergencies.

Minors are also permitted to attend any official school, religious, or recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the city, a civic organization, or any other similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor. Minors are allowed to travel to and from any such activity provided they do so without detour.

"Knowing where your children are during these night time hours helps you and the police department in our partnership to keep our youth safe," the notice by the Waxahachie Police Department states.