New ordinance amendments, if approved by the Springfield Township Board, will establish a curfew for young people, severely limit skateboarding or in-line skating on public streets and sidewalks, and add other offenses as recommended by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.
The board adopted first reading of the amendments to the township’s Omnibus Crime Ordinance at their March 10 meeting. Such amendments require second reading before adoption.
According to Supervisor Collin Walls, the sheriff’s office requested the amendments to bring several ordinances into line with their common enforcement practice in other communities and to help deter certain types of crimes.
The proposed curfew, proposed as 10 p.m.-6 a.m. for those under age 13 and midnight-6 a.m. for those age 13-16, requires minors to be accompanied by a parent, guardian or a designated adult during curfew hours on any public street or gathering place.
Skateboarding and in-line skating are mentioned in a proposed provision designed to prohibit ‘loitering, blocking or hindering access? of pedestrians or vehicles in public places.
Walls voiced concern with these provisions in a memo to the board prior to the March 10 meeting. He noted the absence of bicycles or motorcycles ‘or all the means by which pedestrian traffic could be obstructed.?
Walls also wondered about the need for a township-wide curfew.
‘As a parent, I would have no problem with the hours that are included in the restriction,? Walls said in his memo, ‘but as a government official, I am concerned that this may be going beyond what we should be doing, especially if there is no overwhelming need for a curfew.?
Sgt. Mark Gardner, commander of the Springfield Township sheriff substation, is quoted by Walls as saying the curfew would help deal with larcenies, ‘but larceny is already a crime,? Walls wrote.
Although the board adopted first reading, Walls later repeated his philosophical opposition to the curfew.
‘My problem is I’m too old-fashioned,? he said. ‘I think parents should be responsible for and have control over their own children.?
Indeed, the amendments suggested by the sheriff’s office includes a ‘parental responsibility? section, establishing a misdemeanor offense for those who ‘assist,? ‘allow? or ‘permit? children to violate local ordinances.
Other provisions in the omnibus ordinance amendments are intended to bring local law into harmony with new state laws. They include issues such as host liability, minor in possession of alcohol, disobeying police officers? lawful commands and possession of controlled substances.
Second reading is expected to be on the board’s April 14 agenda.