River Forest raises curfew age to 18

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Updated: July 21, 2011 3:07AM

The River Forest Village Board voted 5-0 Monday to raise the curfew age to 18.

The amended ordinance changes the lawful age at which minors are prohibited from being outside their home after curfew to “less than 18 years of age.”

It also changes the definition of a “responsible companion” who may legally escort a minor in public after curfew from 18 years old to 21 years old.

The move brings the village in line with Oak Park’s curfew ordinance.

All individuals under 18 years of age are now prohibited from being out in public unsupervised by an adult between midnight and 6 a.m. on weekends and between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays.

Fines for violating the ordinance also rise, from a previous maximum of $100 to a new maximum of “no more than $750,” or up to 40 hours of community service in lieu of a fine. There are also defined exceptions to the curfew, including minors attending or traveling back from school, religious or civic activities.

The IMPACT parental group, which formed last year out of growing concern over drug and alcohol problems among minors in the two villages, expressed emphatic support for the amendment.

“This really is not because we have a problem with our 17-year-olds,” IMPACT’s chair, Christine Raino-Ogden said. “It’s because, as far as communication goes, (the curfew difference) is so confusing.”

“We feel that for consistency, as we review the laws in both communities, it’s important that we can communicate one set of laws.”

Raino-Ogden also noted that standard car insurance policies already prohibit minors under age 18 from driving cars after 10 p.m. on weeknights and after 11 p.m. on weekends.

“They already have a driving curfew,” she said. “What this really does, if they’re loitering about, and police are suspicious, they can tell them to move along.”

Trustee Susan Conti, who had previously expressed serious concerns about the fairness and possible unintended effects of the amended ordinance, said she was swayed by the limits insurance carriers already impose on teen drivers under 18.

“I did some research, and what you said is true,” Conti acknowledged of Raino-Ogden. “It’s certainly not a federal case. I’d be willing to change my vote, in the spirit of cooperation.”

Trustee Cathy Adduci brought up one of Conti’s previous concerns: the more restrictive curfew would make it more likely teens would run afoul of Oak Park River Forest High School’s code of conduct.

Adduci asked Police Chief Greg Weiss how curfew violations would be treated from a law enforcement perspective, and whether they would automatically be reported to authorities at the high school.

Weiss said a curfew violation “in and of itself shouldn’t be a trigger for that (law).”

“Drugs or alcohol would need to be involved,” he said. “I think it’s a case-by-case basis.”

Raino-Ogden stressed that River Forest isn’t the only municipality being asked to consider changes to its ordinances.

“We’re asking Oak Park to consider some ordinances that are more reflective of River Forest,” she said.

That includes Oak Park likely adopting an ordinance similar to River Forest’s recently passed Social Hosting ordinance, which holds parents and landlords more legally accountable for under-aged drinking and other disruptive behaviors on private property.