Officials One Step Closer to Enacting a Curfew for Under Age Minors in Unincorporated Manatee County

BRADENTON — Manatee County appears to be one step closer to the likely future adoption of an ordinance that would enact a local juvenile curfew for all minor students/children. The measure was requested for consideration by the Manatee School District and community leaders, and, according to commissioners, has the support of the local Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioner Bob McCann placed the item on Tuesday’s agenda, including a rough-drafted outline of what provisions the juvenile curfew ordinance would impose. 

While opening the item for discussion, McCann said, “A curfew is something that we need to look at here, not only to protect our children but to reduce crime and to make sure children have a chance to succeed in school and life.”

Commissioners had previously heard from various community members, including school district officials, who expressed their desire for commissioners to consider enacting such a measure.

During a July 29, 2025, BOCC meeting, Omar Edwards, Associate Director of Strategic Planning Initiatives for the School District of Manatee County, advocated for a juvenile curfew before the commissioners during public comments.

Edwards read into the record Florida Statutes, Chapter 877.22, and asked commissioners to bring forward an ordinance for adoption in accordance with state law, similar to those that he said the local municipalities of the City of Bradenton and City of Palmetto had already adopted.

“We all know nothing good happens at midnight,” Edwards stated as he explained the need for curfew enforcement. “No juvenile should be allowed to roam our streets at 1 a.m., 2 a.m., 3 a.m., and we have some data that supports that as early as 7 years of age, we have students that are roaming our streets.” 

While giving his July 29 public comment, Edwards implored the commission to “put the needs of children first” when considering whether to support a local ordinance for a juvenile curfew.

Manatee County NAACP President Tracey Washington joined Edwards during public comment on July 29, also speaking in favor of a curfew provision.

“I stand with Omar,’ Washington said. “And I’m hoping that whenever it is on the agenda that you would consider this curfew because we need to hold these parents accountable.”   

Washington said she believes the curfew will help with certain criminal activities, such as car burglaries, that occur in the middle of the night.

Click the video below to replay the public comment portion of the July 29 BOCC meeting.

Other commissioners shared similar comments of support for the measure, but Commission Chair George Kruse disagreed with the premise of such an ordinance. 

Kruse argued that the penalties for violations, including the written notice for the first offense, with subsequent penalties resulting in fines of $50.00 for second offenses and up to $100.00 for third (or continued) offenses, would likely be ineffective. 

According to the proposed provisions attached to Tuesday’s agenda, each violation would also require notification to parents and/or guardians, and habitual offenses could result in required attendance in a diversionary program or referral to juvenile court or social services. 

“You know who doesn’t care about written warnings, people who are out after hours to commit crimes,” said Kruse. “We have this conversation about guns, we have this conversation about everything—the people who don’t listen to laws are the people who are about to go out and break laws.” 

Kruse also argued that enacting a local ordinance could unfairly impact well-intended minors who are not intent on committing crimes or causing any trouble. It could also lead to law enforcement profiling individuals in a certain area of town, or of a certain race, based solely on appearing to be under the age limit, even if they aren’t doing anything else that would have otherwise warranted the stop.

Commissioner Jason Bearden addressed some of Kruse’s concerns in his comments in support of the measure. 

“We have policies put in place in this state for alcohol; you cannot drink unless you’re 21 and over. Why? For their safety and welfare,” Bearden said to Kruse. “We’re not going to allow kids to smoke cigarettes; there’s a specific age on that… I cannot (join the military) as a 16-year-old child. I cannot fight a battle as a 15-year-old child.” Bearden argued. 

“And why not,” Bearden continued, “Because of the safety and welfare of our children. So, implementing a curfew is for the safety and welfare of our children… when the curfews were put in place during COVID, those were put in place on adults, those I completely disagreed with, but it’s our job to set policy for the safety and welfare of our children.”

Commissioner Tal Siddique spoke favorably of the proposal, calling the draft outline of provisions “thoughtful.”

During public comment on the item, local Pastor Dexter McDonald, who introduced himself as the President of the Ministers of Justice program,  Reginald McNeal, Assistant Principal of Bradenton Bay High School, as well as Omar Edwards of the Manatee School District each took turns speaking in favor of a curfew.

Their positions were echoed by local Minister Jerry Parrish, who serves as the Outreach Director for the Police Athletic League (PAL) and the former Executive Director of the Manatee YMCA, where he spent years guiding youth in the Pride Park/Oneco area of Bradenton away from gangs. 

Parrish shared about a recent firsthand experience involving an incident of a troubled youth in Lakewood Ranch who violently attacked a parent before stealing the family's vehicle.

“We have got to put a curfew; it will save some lives,” Parrish stressed.

Following board discussion and public comment, McMann motioned for commissioners to support a directive to the county attorney's office to draft the final ordinance for adoption, to have the county administrator circulate the drafted ordinance to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and the local school district for their input, and to prepare other required attachments to be returned to commissioners for a final adoption hearing during a future scheduled meeting.

McCann’s motion passed 6-1 with only Commissioner Kruse voting in opposition.

Click the video below to replay the proposed juvenile curfew item, including commissioner discussion and public comment, as heard during the August 5, 2025, BOCC meeting.