Is there a law against this??

[Brad Russ]

The other night, I was up around 1:00 in the morning, and decided to walk to the store as I often do. My roomate was upstairs hanging out with a neighbor friend who was 17 years old, and he asked if he could come with me. I had no problem with that, so I said sure. It was a really nice night, and it was a nice walk until we got stopped by a cop. I wasn't at all nervous, as I go out at this hour all the time, and am use to getting stopped. This neighbor kid was a little nervous though, because he was on parole for being out past curfew, which here in Oregon is 11:00 pm. Anyway, after the cop found out our age, three other cops pulled up, and as they all got out of their cars, I made a joke saying: Must be a slow night huh?? They didn't seem to find that too humerous. But anyway, after they found out that I was 24, and he was 17, they said it was okay for me to be out, but not him since he was under 18, and that they'd have to drive him home. I said to the cop, why is it wrong for him to be out this late if he's with someone who's of age?? To which the cop said: Are you his dad?? To which I said: do I have to be?? and he said yes. My question is, is that true?? Can a kid only be out after hours if he's with a parent? Everyone Iv'e asked this to has told me that they've never heard of such a law, and neither have. I know 19 year olds who cruise with 17 year olds on the weekends at like 3:00 in the morning, and no cop ever had any problem with that, so why would they with this?? I just don't get it.

Anyway, have any of you had any negative run ins with the law where you felt like the cop was giving you a hard time, or only stopping you to meet some kind of quota?? Most of the time when I get stopped, the officers are really nice, but these guys were very nasty to us. I was very respectful to them, and was puzzled at how nasty they were to us. They basically kept me standing there in the freezing cold weather for like 10 minutes, and my poor neighbor was standing out there for closer to 20, as the cops really didn't do much of anything.

Another experience I had that some may look at as negative, was when I was stopped, hand cuffed, and patted down by a female cop. There was a male cop with her, so I just found it odd that she was the one patting me down, and not the guy. I mean, she touch my private areas and everything. It didn't really bother me, I mean, they both treated me real nice, but I was just somewhat surprised at the double standard. If a guy patted down a woman, and touched her private parts, he'd probably be suspended at the very least. It just seemed really odd to me.

There are a couple other negative experiences Iv'e had, but I'll just shut up now. Have any of you had any not so great experiences after being stopped by the police?? Please share your stories!!

[ABlairican Pie]

So it's against the law for a person who's 17 to be out after 10:00 PM, even with a person who's of age in Oregon?? I don't get that at all. It MUST be a slow night for cops. I've always thought that Oregon was rather laid back and quiet.

[Brad Russ]

Originally Posted by Captain ABlairica

So it's against the law for a person who's 17 to be out after 10:00 PM, even with a person who's of age in Oregon?? I don't get that at all. It MUST be a slow night for cops. I've always thought that Oregon was rather laid back and quiet.

Oregon really isn't as quiet and laid back as alot of people think, atleast my neighborhood isn't. I still don't think it's against the law for someone who's 17 to be out with someone who's over 18, but I'll have to look that up. If that is the law, then it should definitely be changed in my view.

[Mysty Eyes]

Every place has their own laws, of course. But I think that it is pretty standard to have a curfew, and that underage persons cannot be out after that time without being accompanied by a parent or guardian. It doesn't matter that you are of age, you are still not officially responsible for the other person.

There are exceptions to the rule, in regard to work hours etc. But I have no idea how those are handled.

So, in answer to your question: yes, it is illegal if your community has such a law.

[Coffeecup]

In your post you mentioned this boy was on parole. That tells me the cop has a right to question. OTher than that any one could be out but to tell the truth in this nutty world, anything could happen to anyone anywhere.

[Brad Russ]

Originally Posted by coffeecup

In your post you mentioned this boy was on parole. That tells me the cop has a right to question. OTher than that any one could be out but to tell the truth in this nutty world, anything could happen to anyone anywhere.

Well actually the cop told me he wasn't allowed to be out that late, before he even got the kids name, or knew he was on parole, so I don't know. The whole thing was just extremely unprofessional. Iv'e been studying up alot on law, because I'm hoping to get into law enforcement one day, and there was all kinds of things these guys did wrong. I'm thinking the guy questioning us had to have been a rookie or something, because it was the most unprofessional Iv'e ever seen anything like this handled. Anyway, I think the worst part about the whole thing is that the kid gave the cop his I.D., and didn't realize until he got home, that he never gave it back to him. Poor kid just got the I.D. a few days earlier, paid $30.00 for it, and is now broke, and has no way of getting another one.

[MsOrange]

Originally Posted by Little Mel

Well actually the cop told me he wasn't allowed to be out that late, before he even got the kids name, or knew he was on parole, so I don't know.

that's probably because he could tell the kid was under 18... if your community has a curfew law, then that means he can't be out

[Brad Russ]

Originally Posted by MsOrange

that's probably because he could tell the kid was under 18... if your community has a curfew law, then that means he can't be out

Well the kid is 17, almost 18, so I doubt the cop could tell he was under 18. He might have assumed, but the kid could very easily pass for 21. I thought he was older then 18 when I first met him. As far as the community curfew law, you may very well be right, that's what I'm trying to find out. I'm simply asking if anyone knows for sure whether or not it's illegal for a 17 year old to be out after curfew, if he's with someone over 18? I know the cop said this was the case, but Iv'e heard from various others who have told me that that's not true. If it is the law, cool, I accept that. That's what I'm trying to find out.

[MsOrange]

Ok, this is what I think...

if the community has a curfew, then yes, minors can probably only be out after that time with a guardian? Why? Probably for liablity reasons. Let's say, heaven forbid, something had happen to that kid after curfew, and you were the only adult. Well, you're not his guadrian, therefore, sicne the cops did stop him, if they hadn't of told him he had to go home, the parents could have sued the city for not stopping him, etc. I think curfew's are stupid, but if they are going to be in place, then it only maeks since for kids not to be able to be out past curfew w/ otu a parent/guardian. You are not legally responsibly for that child.

[Brad Russ]

Originally Posted by MsOrange

Ok, this is what I think...

if the community has a curfew, then yes, minors can probably only be out after that time with a guardian? Why? Probably for liablity reasons. Let's say, heaven forbid, something had happen to that kid after curfew, and you were the only adult. Well, you're not his guadrian, therefore, sicne the cops did stop him, if they hadn't of told him he had to go home, the parents could have sued the city for not stopping him, etc. I think curfew's are stupid, but if they are going to be in place, then it only maeks since for kids not to be able to be out past curfew w/ otu a parent/guardian. You are not legally responsibly for that child.

That's a good point!! I never really thought about that, but it makes sense.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Little Mel

The other night, I was up around 1:00 in the morning, and decided to walk to the store as I often do. My roomate was upstairs hanging out with a neighbor friend who was 17 years old, and he asked if he could come with me. I had no problem with that, so I said sure. It was a really nice night, and it was a nice walk until we got stopped by a cop. I wasn't at all nervous, as I go out at this hour all the time, and am use to getting stopped. This neighbor kid was a little nervous though, because he was on parole for being out past curfew, which here in Oregon is 11:00 pm. Anyway, after the cop found out our age, three other cops pulled up, and as they all got out of their cars, I made a joke saying: Must be a slow night huh?? They didn't seem to find that too humerous. But anyway, after they found out that I was 24, and he was 17, they said it was okay for me to be out, but not him since he was under 18, and that they'd have to drive him home. I said to the cop, why is it wrong for him to be out this late if he's with someone who's of age?? To which the cop said: Are you his dad?? To which I said: do I have to be?? and he said yes. My question is, is that true?? Can a kid only be out after hours if he's with a parent? Everyone Iv'e asked this to has told me that they've never heard of such a law, and neither have. I know 19 year olds who cruise with 17 year olds on the weekends at like 3:00 in the morning, and no cop ever had any problem with that, so why would they with this?? I just don't get it.

Anyway, have any of you had any negative run ins with the law where you felt like the cop was giving you a hard time, or only stopping you to meet some kind of quota?? Most of the time when I get stopped, the officers are really nice, but these guys were very nasty to us. I was very respectful to them, and was puzzled at how nasty they were to us. They basically kept me standing there in the freezing cold weather for like 10 minutes, and my poor neighbor was standing out there for closer to 20, as the cops really didn't do much of anything.

Another experience I had that some may look at as negative, was when I was stopped, hand cuffed, and patted down by a female cop. There was a male cop with her, so I just found it odd that she was the one patting me down, and not the guy. I mean, she touch my private areas and everything. It didn't really bother me, I mean, they both treated me real nice, but I was just somewhat surprised at the double standard. If a guy patted down a woman, and touched her private parts, he'd probably be suspended at the very least. It just seemed really odd to me.

There are a couple other negative experiences Iv'e had, but I'll just shut up now. Have any of you had any not so great experiences after being stopped by the police?? Please share your stories!!

As for here in California, Yes it is against the law for any minor to be out past curfew if they are not with a legal guardian or parent. I am pretty sure that is the law in your state as well.
I was seventeen when I assaulted a police officer (not something I am proud of) and I had my head bashed on the hood of a police car and my body slammed against the car. I was in jail for twelve hours before i was taken to juvenile hall where after two hours my dad came and got me. It was that experience that I decided I wanted to either go into law enforcement or the legal field.

[Chad Michael Murray]

There's a law against your mother. @ no one imparticular

*The shifty eyes of randomness strike again*

[robyrob]

I have MANY stories of my teenage years of being harrassed by local cops in a small town, I know that we had a curfew that I got into trouble for violating ALL the time - even when I shouldn't have been.

I remember once when I was 15, I was up at about 5am riding my bike to deliver newspapers. I was going TO the drop box to pick up my papers when some overzealous cop stopped me and questioned me for over half an hour, threatening to FINE me for being out past curfew - I explained that I was doing my paper route, hence the paper bag, but he wouldn't let me go until he escorted me to the paper box, and because I didn't have any I.D. on me, I had to name all of the other paper carriers that had their stuff in the box.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by robyrob

I have MANY stories of my teenage years of being harrassed by local cops in a small town, I know that we had a curfew that I got into trouble for violating ALL the time - even when I shouldn't have been.

I remember once when I was 15, I was up at about 5am riding my bike to deliver newspapers. I was going TO the drop box to pick up my papers when some overzealous cop stopped me and questioned me for over half an hour, threatening to FINE me for being out past curfew - I explained that I was doing my paper route, hence the paper bag, but he wouldn't let me go until he escorted me to the paper box, and because I didn't have any I.D. on me, I had to name all of the other paper carriers that had their stuff in the box.

That's craaaaaaazzzzeeeeeee!