INUVIK - Inuvik's town council passed a bylaw on Nov. 14 that places a curfew on kids under 16.

Anyone under 16 now must be indoors by 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends, unless they are judged to have a reasonable excuse.

Inuvik Mayor Derek Lindsay said the curfew is now active for anyone under 16. They will be required to be indoors after 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photo

Inuvik Mayor Derek Lindsay said he's not sure how long the measure will be necessary.

"I'd love it if this were a temporary measure," he said.

When Inuvik had a curfew more than 20 years ago, the town's fire engine would sound a siren at 9 p.m., he remembered.

Lindsay added there won't be a siren this time around.

"Kids today have cell phones and watches. There's no need tell them what time it is and wake up everybody else," he said.

On Nov. 14, before the bylaw got its final approval, RCMP Cpl. Jim Strowbridge visited town council.

He said that cases of mischief were declining, perhaps due to the cold weather.

"We had some recent calls in the recent weeks of large groups congregating and fighting. The sheer numbers and how late they're staying out is decreasing," he said.

Lindsay, who campaigned for the curfew, said he hopes it won't always be necessary.

"We'll be celebrating the 50th anniversary (of the community) next year, and going back to a curfew we had 25 years ago. We're going back in time," he said.

Inuvik Youth Centre co-ordinator Teresa Winter said the centre would be changing its hours to accommodate the new bylaw.

The centre will now open an hour earlier, but close at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.

"We're going to have the same amount of hours and availability," she said.

According to the bylaw "no child shall, without reasonable excuse, be in any public place during night-time unless accompanied by his/her father, mother or guardian or a person 18 years of age or more, having or entitled to have lawful, care or control of the child."

Lindsay said the town would begin to enforce the curfew immediately - though perhaps not to the full extent of the law.

"We're going to be giving some warnings," he said.