SBPD catches 21 minors in curfew sweep

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- South Bend police are cracking down on curfew.

On Thursday and Friday, the Street Crimes Unit, school resource officers, and uniform patrol shifts conducted a curfew sweep across the city.

Police said they caught 21 minors between the ages of 11 and 17, out past the city's curfew.

Police also said that these random sweeps will continue through the remainder of the summer.

Juveniles will be stopped, arrested and ticketed. Then their parents will have to sign for their release.

Police stated that the point is to keep neighborhoods safe and peaceful. They urge parents to know where their children are at all times.

Don't know the rules? ABC 57 News is breaking the curfew laws down for you.

• Teens between ages 15 and 17 cannot be out in public places between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on weekends, or from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays.
  
• Children under 15 are not allowed to be out between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on any day.
  

There are some exclusions to the rule. It's okay if minors are:

• with their parent or guardian
  
• with an adult allowed by their parent or guardian
  
• participating in, returning from, or going to an activity with written permission from the parent or guardian
  
• participating in, returning from, or going to a job, school activity, religious event, or activity that involves the child's First Amendment rights and is supervised by an adult.
  

As far as violations, tickets run:

• $25 for a first offense
  
• $100 for a second offense within a 1-year period, plus court costs
  
• $200 for a third offense (and any subsequent offenses) within a 1-year period, plus court costs

The South Bend Police Department told us that 50 percent of all of the money collected for these violations go to the Juvenile Positive Assistance Fund.