Behchoko passes youth curfew

A new curfew will keep young people from being out on the streets alone at night inBehchoko, N.W.T.

Under the curfew, approved by the community council Monday night, children and youth under 16 years old are no longer allowed outside, unless accompanied by an adult, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. MT, Sundays to Thursdays.

Parents whose children don't comply with the bylaw can face fines of up to $100 and can be jailed if they refuse to pay the fine.

Coun. Mabel Bonnet said Tuesday that the new bylaw is in response to a rash of recent fires in the community, believed to have been started by youths.

"We're all in favour of it, as well as the community people. We all know the parents are worried about their children and we know that the parents are also in favour of this bylaw," Bonnet told CBC News in the Tlicho language.

The curfew is in place only during the school year and will be enforced by local bylaw officers and RCMP.