Washington streets to be closed to teens

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WASHINGTON, July 30 (UPI) -- A 10 p.m. curfew for youths in Washington is about to begin, part of a larger plan to curb violence in the nation's capital, The Washington Times reports.

The curfew, proposed by Mayor Anthony Williams, is scheduled to begin Monday, but it is getting mixed support from city residents, the newspaper said.

"I think the curfew is going to help but not by itself," Henry Dozier, 74, said. "You have to give them some alternatives to just being in the house, something wholesome."

Metropolitan Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey declared a crime emergency on July 11 after 13 homicides were reported in 11 days.

The aggressively enforced curfew will bar youths from city streets, parks and other outdoor areas until 6 a.m. Exceptions will be made for work, emergencies or church-related activities.

Many Washington-area youths, however, are open about their disregard for the curfew, saying they don't believe it will halt crime, the Times said.