Montgomery Co. curfew bill may never come to vote
Friday - 12/2/2011, 4:12am ET
Kate Ryan, wtop.com
WASHINGTON -- After all the talk-town hall meetings, committee work sessions and hearings, a curfew bill in Montgomery County may never come to a vote.
There are indications that the bill, sought by County Executive Isiah Leggett, will be tabled when the council meets on Tuesday.
Councilmember Phil Andrews, who has been against a curfew from the start, says his colleagues on the council continue to question the need for a curfew. Andrews has offered competing legislation that would target loitering and so-called "prowling" behavior, but that's failed to gain much traction.
As an alternative, Councilmember Nancy Floreen has suggested amending the curfew to allow the county executive to implement it on an ad hoc basis for a period of 180 days.
Andrews responded to that proposal, saying, "I think a curfew should be reserved for situations where crime is out of control, or you have an emergency situation. I can't think of an emergency that's lasted 180 days in my lifetime."
Leggett has pushed hard to get the bill passed and his spokesman, Patrick Lacefield, told the Gazette newspaper that the executive will continue to get the bill brought to a vote.
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