By Tanya Eiserer
The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Tex. — Authorities are cracking down on underage scofflaws who are out drinking alcohol or violating the city’s curfew rules.
Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle and other area law enforcement officials officially kicked off a juvenile enforcement initiative at a news conference at Dallas police headquarters on Tuesday.
“The intent of this is to end the summer as safe as we can for young people,” Chief Kunkle said.
The initiative is expected to last through the end of the month when most schools re-open. Last weekend, 68 curfew tickets were issued as part of the initiative.
Police plan to step up their enforcement efforts around the city’s entertainment districts, such as Deep Ellum and Lower Greenville, as well as at city parks that have been identified as locations where juveniles tend to hang out.
Officials will also conduct alcohol and cigarette stings to crack down on stores who sell such items to underage people.
Dallas police will be working with DISD police, DART police, as well as Dallas County constables and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on the initiative.
The city curfew applies to youths 16 and younger, police said. The curfew hours extend from Sunday through Thursday, 11p.m. to 6 a.m., and Friday and Saturday 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Authorities said they also anticipate following up with another initiative focusing primarily on truancy and safety at school sporting events once school is back in session.
Copyright 2007 The Dallas Morning News