Williamsport committee debates moving juvenile curfew to 9 p.m., raising fines

President Eric Beiter opened the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 12 and introduced an ordinance proposed by the administration to change Williamsport’s juvenile curfew and to raise related penalties.

Mayor Slaughter and the police chief outlined the proposal and the administration’s rationale. The chief said the city has enforced a curfew since 2005 and provided citation counts: “In 2023, we issued 40 curfew citations. In 2024, we issued 73 and last year, we issued 52,” he said. The administration recommended reducing the curfew hour to 9 p.m. and increasing fines (the chief cited examples of raising fines above the current $25 to levels such as $100, $250 or $500) while noting officers and juvenile probation could recommend community service instead of monetary penalties.

Council members pressed for more data and clarity. One councilor asked for magistrate payment and disposition records; the chief said that information is handled through the magistrate and agreed to try to obtain it by Thursday. Several members asked the administration to identify which municipalities use 9 p.m. curfews and whether any jurisdictions had been sued over curfews or alleged discrimination.

Several council members flagged equity and enforcement concerns. Councilman Mackey and others questioned whether a 9 p.m. curfew would unfairly affect working teens, single parents and guardians and whether fines would disproportionately burden families. A councilor suggested higher community‑service penalties as an alternative to large monetary fines. Others emphasized the police view that earlier curfews give officers additional authority to stop juveniles when few people are on the street.

Administration officials described the curfew change as one part of a multi‑pronged approach to juvenile crime and said the city is simultaneously exploring rehabilitative and preventive programs, including partnerships with the Boys & Girls Club and potential juvenile programming or treatment facilities. “We’re actively exploring multiple options,” the mayor said, and officials said they have met with county and state partners though no firm timeline or funding commitment was provided at the committee meeting.

The committee did not vote on the ordinance on May 12. Members agreed to continue discussion and to review the requested enforcement and disposition data and municipal benchmarking before the full City Council meeting scheduled for Thursday evening.