SF to ban truants from cybercafés?

  • By Beth Winegarner, GameSpot
  • Posted Jan 28, 2005 4:20 pm PT

Proposed law would restrict minors from gaming cafés during school hours, late at night; LA has passed similar ban.

San Francisco supervisor Fiona Ma has proposed what could be a precedent-setting citywide law that would force cybercafé owners to check IDs and ban minors during school hours and late at night.

If it passes, the ordinance would require owners of cybercafés and arcades to make sure students stay out during the school day, as well as between 11pm and 8am before school days--and fine owners up to $750 for repeat offenses.

Reportedly, most café owners said that the law won't change the way they do business, since they already check IDs during the day. San Francisco's Youth Commission will have another crack at the proposed legislation February 7. They have already removed one clause that would have banned loitering. Youth commissioners have also raised concerns about Ma's proposal, because they say arcades and cafés are one of the few safe places for teens to spend time after dark.

Last July, Los Angeles approved a similar law limiting the hours during which minors could use cybercafés or "PC baangs" that provide five or more computers with Internet access. It also requires those cafés to obtain a police permit before they can operate.

According to MSNBC, a report found that 86 percent of people arrested at cybercafés were juveniles, and 93 percent of those arrests were for truancy or curfew violations. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors may hold a public hearing on the proposed SF law in February.

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