A juvenile curfew in Williamsport is going to see further revisions after city officials received feedback on the proposed 9 p.m. start time instead of where it is now at 11 p.m. and issues related with increasing fines for curfew violation.

City Council first heard from residents, then listened as city Police Chief Justin Ottaviano described why police need this and then talked amongst themselves before tabling or delaying it for revision purposes.

The 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. proposal along with increased fines/penalties was believed to need further review with input from community groups and individuals, youth diversionary program providers, mentors, the administration of Mayor Derek Slaughter and police.

The tabling means the curfew remains unchanged from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for those under 18 years of age as do the fines. The fines in the proposal went from $25 to 100; $50 to $300 and $500 to $1,000 maximum.

Ottaviano reiterated that police would not be looking at youths coming from their places of work, believing that was a misconception of some people.

He briefly went over reasons for the proposed two-hour time reduction and increased penalties proposed.

The ordinance as presented by Ottaviano lowered the time from 11 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“Obviously, diversion is the goal, because assessing fines – that’s not the goal, ” he said. “This is for a niche group of kids who are out causing problems . . . this is not for kids going to and from work or coming from a community event.”

In fact, there are actually exceptions in the ordinance that cover that. In terms of community service, that can’t be set alone, according to the chief, who noted “there has to be some sort of monetary fine.” “If there is just community service fine and there is no monetary value what’s that worth?” Ottaviano asked. “How does a judge say, ‘You didn’t complete this. You didn’t show up, now what’? “Well if you don’t do community service then you will have to do the fine,” he said.

Ottaviano said he could not find a citation in which the parents were issued a separate citation.

“Obviously, if you cite a 14 year old for curfew they are not going to have money. They are not going to have a job.” “Now, a 17-year-old who is out causing problems they have money and if necessary, yeah, they’d have to pay a fine.”

Some people have said 9 p.m. during school and 10 p.m. in summer, the chief added. “That’s great too,” he said. “Something is better than nothing,” he said.

City police have conversed with nearby municipalities in other jurisdictions.

“Everybody, basically, bases it off us,” Ottaviano said. If the city would lower the curfew hours those municipalities around the city intend to try to lower theirs as well, he remarked.

Councilman Adam Yoder summarized several reasons why he believed revisions were needed before the ordinance could be brought back to remove off the table for discussion and a vote.

There is an annual review of this, Yoder said. That annual review process really needs to start happening, he said, adding it would be one of the tools that council has to start sifting through on an annual basis what’s happening.

“I remain hesitant on how this is written today,” he said.

“I am worried about penalizing a majority of the kids that are out there law abiding,” he said. adding, “they are not causing trouble and maybe this helps them into being into trouble, right?”

“I am worried about kids, and there are more who are not causing trouble, that are probably out because they don’t have anywhere else to go.” “I am worried about the negative ramifications this could have on them.”

Yoder also expressed his reservations on the fine increase.

Councilman Jon Mackey in a committee meeting had posited a possible 9 p.m. curfew during the school year and leaving it at 11 p.m. “If the goal is community service for individuals who get into this system some monetary fine is appropriate,” he said, adding it was just his initial thoughts.

During the limited courtesy of the floor before this agenda item, city resident Kevin Mackey, former city treasurer, read a list of criminal activity linked to minors and reasons why he believed the curfew changes would assist the police to preempt some of the crimes which he listed. Also during that time, members of the community who organize, counsel, instruct, mentor and provide educational outlets and guidance for many youths gave input.