By JIM BUTLER

Record of any citations issued for violating Cheneyville’s new juvenile curfew is protected under the juvenile justice protections.

The curfew went into effect on March 27. It prohibits persons under 17 from being out and about from 9 p.m. through 5 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and from 10 p.m. through 5 a.m. unless accompanied by parent, legal guardian or other legally responsible person.

Imposition of a curfew is the town council’s response to what was labeled a severe increase in juvenile-committed crimes, particularly at night.

Exceptions to the curfew are civic, religious or school activity or lawful employment, or going to or from those.

First violation requires a sentence of community service, probation or suspended sentence by district court.

Second and succeeding in addition to court sentence requires at least 32 hours community service in each instance.

Any person 17 or older abetting juvenile violation of the curfew is subject to citation and prosecution.