Columbia City Council member Laura Nauser is proposing the change to cut back on crime by kids. She met with six vocal opponents of the original curfew plan, which dates back to 2003 during Almeta Crayton's days on the council.

The group debated the best and worst outcomes of a proposed cerfew. If enacted, the curfew would restrict teens less than 15 from being out after 10 p.m. during weekdays and 11 p.m. during weekends.

Nauser believes the most important reason behind the curfew is a recent spike in crime by youth in Columbia. In 2007, the city saw more than 2,100 crimes committed by those less than 18. In 2008, that number rose to more than 2,400 crimes. In 2009 (as of March) 199 crimes have been commited by kids less than 18. She says while a curfew wouldn't eliminate all crime, it may give parents and law enforcement a tool to restrict youth crime.

Many other Mid-Missouri towns have similar curfews. Those towns include Hallsville, Centralia, Ashland, Fulton, Moberly and Jefferson City. Nauser says these towns have been successful in lowering the non-violent crime rates among youth. Graffetti in particular is down in these towns.

Nauser hopes to have a Columbia curfew in place before the end of the 2009 school year, but said she isn't sure when the city council will put the idea to a vote.