Imagine being locked up in a classroom staring out the window, waiting anxiously for your “curfew” to end. Daytime curfews, which have recently been considered by districts such as Capistrano Unified, restrict students from being outside from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Although the district recently declined to enforce it, the curfew was proposed to keep students in school, hoping that they would abstain from drugs, gangs, and criminal activity. However, students should not be held in because many they have important necessities taking place during the daytime such as medical appointments, sports, clubs, or tutoring sessions.

Night curfews, however, still prevent teens from unsafe activity without interfering with their busy schedules. While daytime curfews are unfair and unnecessary, night curfews should still be applied to teenagers for their protection.

In Brea, the curfew begins at 10 p.m. for students who are under the age of 18. This gives them enough time to accomplish things in the day and still have time to spend time with friends and family.

“I have school during the day and usually have to do all my homework so by the time night comes around I have time to hang out with my friends,” said Danielle Mardahl, junior.

Curfews are meant to prevent kids from staying out late to ensure their own safety. Though dangerous situations can occur anytime, a daytime curfew does not guarantee that children and teens can be safe from these situations.

“Teenagers should be accountable for their own safety and not have to depend on curfew laws to be mentally stable,” said Ted Kim, freshman.

Normally kids get “grounded” for passing their curfew from their parents, but in the case of a daytime curfew, fines can be placed on a teen if they decide to disobey the given curfew.

Kristine Sea, sophomore said, “We shouldn’t have to pay a fine for breaking a daytime curfew. If they actually made us pay money for that it would just tempt kids to rebel against the curfew.”

Curfews whether they occur in the day or night should be able to provide a safe environment for teens without having to take away the freedom to do what they want.