DOBSON — The town of Dobson will soon be considering an ordinance aimed at curbing crime by enforcing a curfew for those under the age of 18.

Dobson Police Chief Shawn Myers said the ordinance will not go into effect unless it is adopted by the town board. That could happen at the next town meeting slated for Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.

“We are actually in the implementation stage for a new town ordinance that is in the process of being written and adopted by the town,” Myers said.

The curfew hours, if passed, will be seven days a week from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Myers said those times could change as the ordinance is still in the finalization stage.

“It really came about from an amount of breaking and enterings that we’ve had involving juveniles. The crime rate has increased with our juvenile population from hours after 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.,” Myers said.

He said the ordinance will not affect those who are in an emergency situation or for errands that an adult has asked a teen to do for them.

“It’s more or less for the juveniles that the guardians or adults have no idea where they are at,” Myers said. “If they are sent by a family member then it’s absolutely okay.”

The ordinance will not affect those who have to travel to and from work during those hours or teens who are leaving a school event.

“There are more exemptions then there are not. We are just more or less trying to curb the crime.”

The fines will be $25 for the first offense, $35 for the second offense and $50 for the third.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.