Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen could vote on proposed youth curfew

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen could vote Tuesday on a proposed youth curfew, prohibiting anyone younger than 18 from being on the Bagnell Dam Strip after 11 p.m. without a guardian.

The vote was delayed at the board's June 28 meeting.

The vote was pushed back after a proposal to change the curfew start time from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. There was also discussion about businesses with employees under 18 and protecting minors who work in restaurants on the Bagnell Dam Strip from penalties after curfew starts. These propositions caused a delay in the vote, and the aldermen will now vote to either approve or deny the ordinance.

The aldermen said the reason for the ordinance was due to "the City [seeing] an increase in disorderly conduct, disturbances to the peace, minors engaged in illicit drug and alcohol usage, and other delinquency issues during evening and early morning hours in the City's Central Business District," according to the city's ordinance.

The purpose is to curb the issues the city says are rising with unaccompanied minors out after certain hours.

If approved, the ordinance would stretch from the Lake Ozark Christian Church to the Bagnell Dam Strip and last from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The first offense would be a warning, and the following offenses would be a fine of $500, according to the ordinance.

The board of aldermen will have a meeting at 5:30 p.m.

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