RB Camacho
SAIPAN Mayor Ramon Camacho is urging parents and guardians in our community to strictly enforce supervision of minor children, particularly after curfew hours. Recent observations have revealed an alarming number of minors roaming the community well past curfew, posing risks to their safety and the well-being of our community.
Mayor Camacho emphasized the importance of adhering to Public Law 15-129, which establishes curfew hours for minors to provide stricter penalties for those that do not comply with the curfew law; and for other purposes.
Under Public Law 15-129, any person not covered by subsections (b) and (c) of this section who violates the terms of this chapter may be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 30 days, and up to 250 hours of community service. Additionally, any parent, guardian, or other adult person having the lawful custody, permanent or temporary, of any minor who suffers, permits, or lets, either willfully or negligently, such minor to violate the provisions of this chapter shall be fined not more than $750.00.
This law is in place to ensure the safety of our children and to maintain public order. “The safety of our children and the entire community is one of my utmost priorities,” stated Mayor Camacho. “We must work together to protect our youth from the dangers they face when unsupervised during late hours.”
The mayor highlighted several concerns associated with minors being out past curfew, including the temptation of engaging in harmful activities such as drug and alcohol use, vandalism, and other criminal behavior. Furthermore, unsupervised minors are at increased risk of being harmed by others.
Mayor Camacho is calling on all parents and guardians to take the following actions:
• Ensure Supervision. Be vigilant in knowing the whereabouts of your children at all times, especially after curfew.
• Educate and Communicate. Talk to your children about the importance of following curfew laws and the risks associated with being out late.
• Community Involvement. Encourage community members to report any sightings of minors violating curfew to local authorities to ensure their safety.
