It's still several hours before these Freeport skateboarders need to be home by curfew. But when that hour rolls around, not everyone is thrilled about it. "I don't like it because I like to go around and hang with friends at night and getting yelled at by cops isn't fun," Jason Nelson said. Nelson says he's been stopped twice since the new graduated curfew took effect in Freeport one year ago. He says wasn't doing anything bad at the time...Just..."Chillin' walking around with friends," Nelson said. But the second time, he got a fine. In the past year, the Freeport police department handed out about a dozen more violations because of the new tiered system. The hours are listed on your screen
"For the most part they're adhering to it voluntarily," Smith said. Smith attributes that to officers spreading the word to kids on the streets.
"There's alot of deterrant in place a consequence of that interaction," Smith said. Along with the skate park, this gas station on the city's west side is a popular hangout for teens. The owner wouldn't go on camera but he says since the new curfew started, he's seen fewer teens hanging out here at night. Police say those still getting in trouble aren't doing it just to violate the new curfew law. Some were caught vandalizing the city cemetary. As the weather gets warmer, police say they'll be out enforcing the curfew so teens don't skate away scott-free. There are some exceptions to this curfew law. For example, if students are coming home late from a game or another school-related activity, they won't get in trouble.