Rockdale County considers changing child curfew laws

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. - Parents who live and visit Conyers are sounding off about a proposal that could penalize any adult who supposed to be supervising a teen who violates the city's curfew.

The curfew on weeknights is 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. It's 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Since 2011, parents have been subject penalties in citations when their own kids violate the rules, but some parents told FOX 5's Portia Bruner the proposed expanded version of that ordinance is unfair.

"I don't think we should be responsible for somebody else's kid in terms of jail wise and fine wise. That just doesn't make sense," said Kim Gutierrez, a wife and mother of three.

Gutierrez was surprised to hear the fine could be up to $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail. City manager Tony Lucas said fines are closer to a couple hundred dollars.

Are Judges are always going to use discretion and look at each case on an individual basis. I can't imagine a scenario where any judge would actually find a parent $1,000 or put them in jail for six months," said Lucas.

But Councilman Jacob Bailey plans to vote no, just as he did during the initial vote in mid-July. He told Bruner he is concerned about adjudge having the option to sentence someone to 6 months in jail for not being able to control unruly teenagers.

"They'll lose their job, their house, their car. It just doesn't address the real issue of the child being out past curfew. And from what I understand, the most time ever used is 30 days, which indicates to me 6 months is too much, said Bailey.

Sherrika McKay says more accountability is good a thing... especially when it comes to keeping up with teens. But she also hopes council members will consider a graduated penalty that starts with warnings instead of fines.

"If we don't pay attention to our children and know where they are when they're out and about oh, that's a problem it's so easy for our children to get in trouble if we don't pay attention. But it still has to be fair," said the mother of 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old children.

Council members will vote on August 15. Unlike the initial vote, if this second vote is not unanimous, the new provision can and will go into effect, according to the city manager.