Cypress Delays Action on Daytime Curfew

CYPRESS — A proposed daytime curfew for young people sparked a furor at a public meeting here Monday night, when the police chief urged City Council members to back the idea.

The council postponed action on the measure until September, after nearly a dozen residents spoke against it.

The proposed ordinance would establish a curfew coinciding with school hours. Police would be empowered to give citations to anyone 6 to 18 years old who is spotted off school grounds without written permission.

The idea, supported by police chiefs and school superintendents, is being put to city councils across Orange County. So far, only La Habra has approved it.

Cypress Police Chief Daryl Wicker told council members the proposed curfew would help police contain juvenile crime. He said a similar curfew has worked well in Monrovia in Los Angeles County.

Wicker stressed that he would be careful “to enforce the spirit of the law, not the letter.”

No one in the audience took Wicker’s side. About 20 residents indicated that they opposed the curfew, and 11 spoke against it.

Among them was Ed Crossett, who said the curfew could prevent parents from taking kids out of school when they needed.

Another resident, John Fitle, also derided the idea.

“This would put a burden on some of the people who already are the most law abiding,” Fitle said.

Councilman Tom Carroll attempted to kill the proposal but failed to get any support on the council.

“It’s outrageous on its face and if you look at the details, it is even worse,” said Carroll, referring to the proposal. “It is the worst concept since the removal of Japanese people in California in the 1940s.”

Carroll was referring to the U.S. policy to intern Japanese Americans during World War II.

City Atty. John E. Cavanaugh told the City Council that he had “concerns” about the legality of the proposed curfew.

“The concept is laudable, but the means are questionable,” Cavanaugh said.