By Jeremy W. Steele
The Cincinnati Enquirer

TRISTATE CURFEWS

Some Tristate area curfews for minors: Anderson Township Midnight, under 17 Cheviot 11 p.m., under 16 1 a.m., under 18 Cincinnati 10 p.m., under 16 Midnight, 16-17 Cleaves 11 p.m. citywide, 5 p.m. business district, under 18 Covington Midnight weekends, 11 p.m. weekdays, under 18 Erlanger 11 p.m. weekdays, 1 a.m. weekends, under 18 Fairfield 11 p.m., under 18 Florence 11 p.m. weekdays, 1 a.m. weekends, under 18 Forest Park 11 p.m., under 14 Midnight, 14-18 Fort Mitchell 11 p.m. under 18 Fort Thomas 11 p.m. weekdays, midnight weekends, under 18 Mount Healthy 10 p.m., under 14 10 p.m. weekdays, midnight weekends, under 18 Newport 11 p.m. weekdays, midnight weekends, under 18 North College Hill 11 p.m., under 14 Midnight, 15-17

COLERAIN TWP. - Bernie Fiedeldey knows the statistics. He realizes most of the young people in his township aren't causing problems.

But the 0.5 percent who are might just ruin things for everyone else.

Fiedeldey, a township trustee, is pushing a midnight curfew for all 16,410 people younger than 18 in this bustling township.

"There is some negative to it," Fiedeldey said. "You're telling good teens what to do, and I don't like that. But I don't know what else to do."

Nighttime juvenile arrests in the township have risen from 27 in 2000 to 75 in 2002 - a 178 percent increase, according to Colerain Township police.

Fiedeldey's solution: keep troublemakers - and the good kids, too - inside at night. Those found in violation could be taken home or their parents could be fined.

North College Hill, Mount Healthy, Cincinnati and other Tristate communities have curfews for minors, ranging from 10 p.m. to midnight.

In Anderson Township, where a midnight curfew was imposed in 1996, police have seen a decrease in assaults, thefts, stolen vehicles and property damage.

"In the eyes of the police department, it's a tool you can use," Colerain Township Police Chief Steven Sarver said. "We don't have rampant problems with kids on every corner or gangs, but we do have kids out at night involved in criminal acts."

Fiedeldey hopes the board votes on the measure at its June 10 meeting.

E-mail jsteele@enquirer.com