New Downtown Tulsa Curfew Aims to Keep Kids Safe: What are your thoughts?

Parents, be aware of the new curfew in Tulsa. Yesterday, the Tulsa City Council voted to enact a new curfew for youth who are younger than 18. The curfew, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., encompasses the area within the Inner Dispersal Loop (IDL). The curfew is in effect on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Set to end on October 22, 2025, the Tulsa City Council will review the curfew on or before that time for continued implementation. Go to cityoftulsa.org for Frequently Asked Questions.

The new curfew applies to the IDL. The citywide curfew for those younger than 18 is still in place. City curfew hours are 11 p.m. – 6 a.m. Sunday through Friday, and 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Addressing a recent spate of shootings at gatherings in Tulsa, city officials are implementing the curfew as one step toward making downtown safer for everyone. The Tulsa Police Department will also launch a Gun Violence Task Force to identify the causes of gun violence to find effective ways to address it.

Brian Kurtz, CEO of Downtown Tulsa Partnership, issued the following statement on the curfew:

“On behalf of Downtown Tulsa Partnership’s board and staff, I express my gratitude to Tulsa City Council for passing the emergency curfew ordinance at this evening’s council meeting. This is an interim safety measure – not a cure-all solution. It is intended to protect everyone – youth and adults – and to lessen the chances of violent interactions and incidents.

“Assuring the safety of Downtown residents, workers and visitors requires many tools and actions, and this measure is one of many necessary strategies to improve conditions. That work will require continued collaboration among numerous individuals and groups, including government, business and philanthropy, and will include a combination of enforcement as well as non-enforcement strategies. That work has already begun.

“I appreciate the collaboration of Councilors Gilbert, Hall-Haper, Bellis, and Lakin, as well as Mayor Nichols and his office, and Tulsa Police Department throughout the ideation of this proposal, and to all members for the dialogue that occurred today. We are stronger when we work together.”

WHAT IF MINORS ARE WITH THEIR PARENTS OR WORKING?

Minors with a parent/guardian or “responsible adult*” are not included in the curfew. Youth who are not with a parent/guardian or responsible adult, but are attending activities within the IDL, like an athletic event, concert, recreational activity or other spectator event that ends after 9 p.m. can attend those events but will need to leave the IDL area as soon as the event ends. Young people who work downtown can go to and from their jobs, but they must leave the area immediately after work.

HOW WILL THE DOWNTOWN CURFEW BE ENFORCED?

According to City of Tulsa information, if an officer reasonably believes a person is under 18 and observes that person in Downtown Tulsa after curfew hours, the officer is required to first ask the person their age and reason for being in Downtown Tulsa. If the person is under 18, prior to taking any enforcement action, the officer will otherwise try to determine whether the person:

• is with a parent or responsible adult;
• is working or returning to or from work;
• is attending, going to, or returning home from an event such as a ballgame or concert;
• is going to or returning home from an official school, religious or recreational activity supervised by adults; or
• is involved in an emergency

If the officer is unable to determine any of the above information and reasonably believes the person is in violation of the curfew ordinance, the officer may take enforcement action. Generally, officers will first ask the person to leave the Downtown Tulsa area prior to taking enforcement action depending on the circumstances.

Curfew violators may be fined as much as $200. In lieu of a fine, the Court may require community service.

*“Responsible adult” is defined by the ordinance but generally means an individual who is over 18 years old, who has or who has been charged with the permanent and/or temporary care and/or custody of the juvenile.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

We’d love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts below. Do you have a teen? What do you think of the curfew? Do you attend events, bars, restaurants, activities and concerts downtown? What has been your experience?

What is the parents’ responsibility in large teen gatherings? In preventing gun violence?