In a decisive response to recent incidents of youth-related disturbances, the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. is enforcing an early curfew for minors in the Navy Yard zone that began last Friday, following a series of fireworks-related incidents over the July 4th weekend, where, according to 7News, juveniles were seen throwing fireworks into buildings, amidst traffic and pedestrians, culminating in the arrest of 23 individuals by police, most of whom were under 18 years old.
The supplementary restrictions, detailed by FOX 5 DC, include a curfew beginning at 8 p.m., ahead of the existing citywide 11 p.m. curfew, and aim to curb the assembly of large groups of minors that potentially risk public safety, ranging from misdemeanors to muggings—one such incident last May led to an individual’s hospitalization, the curfew zone is valid from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. for assemblies of nine or more minors unless they’re engaged in exempted activities.
Backing these measures, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Edward Daniels has pushed for stricter enforcement, voicing concern over the procedure for addressing youth violence, “I think based on the Fourth of July, I’m interested in seeing how MPD is going to actually enforce it,” Daniels said in an interview with WUSA9. Local police are reportedly prioritizing engagement with minors to encourage adherence before resulting in arrests and penalties…