The Blue Island City Council approved an ordinance setting financial penalties for parents and guardians whose kids are involved in disruptive gatherings of teenagers known as “teen takeovers,” particularly those that cause damage.
The ordinance holds legal guardians and custodial parents responsible for the cost of repairing or replacing city property damaged by their children, along with other associated costs such as city emergency, police or public works responses.
The city justified the penalties in the ordinance, stating it is unlawful for a custodial parent or legal guardian to fail in exercising parental responsibility by allowing the minor to commit city ordinance violations and any other willful or malicious acts.
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City officials defined a “willful or malicious act” as an act that is intentional and done with a knowing disregard for the safety, rights or the property of others.
“This ordinance is about accountability,” said Blue Island Mayor Fred Bilotto in a statement. “It emphasizes that parents play an important role in supervising their children. It begins with education and a warning, but where there is a repeated failure to supervise, there must also be consequences.”
After the ordinance passed June 23, First Ward Ald. Dexter Johnson praised the city for the statute and noted the shootings and teen takeovers that occurred in Chicago over the weekend of June 18 through 21. Marcus Chatman, 14, who played for a Dolton area football team, was one of several people killed that weekend.
“I’m happy to see the administration being more proactive than reactive,” Johnson said.
In addition to ordinances, he said would like to see more collaboration between police and community and faith-based organizations.
The total fines issued to parents can not exceed $20,000, according to the ordinance. The parent is also given 30 days to contest the claims and costs. The city has 30 days to respond to the parents’ contestation, according to the ordinance.
Possible costs attributed to the parent can include any actual, reasonable, and documented costs incurred by the city directly attributable to a “wrongful” act of a person under the age of 18 years, according to the ordinance.
Fees can also include costs for removing graffiti or defacement, costs of abating a nuisance, administrative costs of processing the claim and any costs of legal proceedings to recover such amounts.
“Our parks, neighborhoods, and business districts belong to everyone in Blue Island,” Bilotto said. “Families should be able to enjoy them without worrying about reckless behavior or unlawful gatherings that threaten public safety.”
In cases where two or more minors cause damage, each parent or guardian would be held liable, according to the ordinance.
Parents are also required under the statute to appear when their child is charged with a violation and required to appear in court.
The parent’s liability insurance or payments from other sources can be used to offset the cost, and parents can be offered payment plans, under the ordinance.
A legal guardian is defined as a person appointed guardian or given custody of a minor by a court and does not include a person appointed guardian or given custody of a minor under the State Juvenile Court Act of 1987, under the statute. A custodial parent is defined as having legal custody over a minor under Illinois law, or any person standing in place of a parent to the child, under the statute.
The ordinance amends the city’s parental responsibility law in an effort to align it with the Illinois Parental Responsibility Law, officials said. The Illinois statute establishes civil liability of parents or legal guardians for willful and malicious acts of minors causing injury to persons or damage to property.
Parents are to be notified of the charges through written statements in the mail. If parents do not pay the fees, the city can pursue court action, under the statute.
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“The overwhelming majority of Blue Island’s young people are respectful and responsible,” said Bilotto. “This ordinance is not aimed at them. It is intended to help prevent organized disturbances before they occur, protect our residents and businesses, and reinforce that keeping our community safe is a shared responsibility.”
Last summer, police across Flossmoor, Posen, Orland Park and other surrounding areas attempted to create protocols for responding to the large, teenage gatherings.
With summer back in full swing, teen takeovers are once again a topic of discussions in the Chicago area.
Two teenagers were arrested and 18 tickets were issued during a large gathering last week in downtown Naperville, according to Naperville police.
Hazel Crest police released a statement in early June about a teen gathering where officers opted to communicate with the teenagers and keep it peaceful, without disruption, instead of breaking up the gathering.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has responded with opportunities like summertime job opportunities for youth and newer additions like free membership to city YMCAs for people ages 12 to 18.
Chicago city leaders have considered other possible solutions, from job programs and better social media regulation to city-sponsored social events to snap curfews and parental liability ordinances.