With school out, kids have fewer restrictions on their time. Butstarting Tuesday night, Cumberland County teens such as 15-year-oldlifeguard K.C. Daniels have a curfew to adhere to. She can't be out on thestreets between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Daniels says she thinks the curfew isgood.
K.C. says she doesn't think most teens will agree with her. She saysshe's sure many will find ways to get around the law.
Casper Broadus doesn't have to worry about the county curfew becausehe is 16, but he says his parents always know where he is anyway.
There are many parents who support the curfew. Tonnie Barnes says it'snice to have the law supporting his desire to have his kids in the house.
There are exceptions to the curfew. If a child is with his or herparents, is out working or is out on an emergency, there will be nopenalty. Sheriff Earl "Moose" Butler says he doesn't plan to use the newordinance just to arrest kids. He says he merely wants to see them off thestreets where they can neither commit crimes nor become victims of them.
The curfew does not apply within Fayetteville. The city is consideringits own curfew law.
Cumberland County is not the first area in the state to try a curfew.Charlotte, Knightdale, Wake Forest and Benson have all enacted curfewsin recent years. Most cities have reported seeing a decline in juvenilecrime since the curfews took affect.
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