Law lengthens curfew hours

Posted on Feb 24 1999

Alarmed over the increase in cases of juvenile crimes, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has approved an amendment to a local law extending by one hour the curfew hours for minors.

Under the new law, minors aged 16 years and older will not be allowed to loiter in public places, restaurants, entertainment or amusement centers on the island between 10:00 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following day and between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 am for those 16 years old below.

“Hopefully this legislation will help in decreasing the number of juvenile related crimes which has significantly increased,” the governor said in a letter to the Legislature after signing Saipan Law 11-4.

Local legislators have lengthened the curfew hours due to what they claimed sharp increase in crimes committed by teenagers as reflected in a report prepared by the Division of Youth Services in 1997.

The Legislature said that cases of buglary and theft and assault and battery committed by minors have risen significantly. It did not provide statistics.

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