In most cases, violations are a Class C misdemeanor with a judge deciding the fine or other punishment. Dallas' curfew was opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union, which claimed it infringed on young people's liberty. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ordinance, ruling the curfew was sufficiently narrow to protect juveniles from evening crimes while maintaining their constitutional rights. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the ACLU's appeal. Most Texas curfew ordinances make exceptions for juveniles who are out in the evenings with their parents, on a legitimate errand or involved with a religious, educational or business activity.
Curfews can reduce juvenile crime and keep teenagers out of harm's way.
In Corpus Christi, a law enforcement spokesman called the nighttime curfew, which restricts minors from being in a public place between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., a cornerstone of the city's anti-gang program. Police view youth curfews as helpful in certain situations, but enforcement can be difficult when neighboring communities have different laws. For example, Harris County, Pasadena and Pearland all have curfews, but the nearby communities of Bellaire, West University, Katy, Sugar Land and Fort Bend County do not. Many units serve as specialized treatment centers. Gainesville, for example, offers chemical dependency treatment while Giddings has programs for sex offenders.