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Bill Bans Restaurant Sales To Kids Before School

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― Baltimore merchants are not happy about a bill that says they could be fined if students are in their stores early in the morning.

Suzanne Collins explains the current curfew could be expanded from 9 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

It started at the Barclay School in East Baltimore.  Teachers and others noticed some students were consistently late and it was easy to guess why.

"It can range from breakfast sandwiches, chips, soda, juice that they pull out of a bag obviously they had on the way," said Leigh Dalton, school coordinator.

Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke has introduced a bill to extend the curfew that bars students from going in any retail establishment.  It's now from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.  It would have it go into effect at 7:30 a.m.

Before 9 a.m. Monday, Eyewitness News encountered some students at McDonald's who, under the bill, would be in violation.

"I think we should be able to buy food anytime we want to, cause if [we're] going to be late, we might as well have food and be late," said Shane Richardson.

The penalty would be $50 citations for parents and fines of $500 for shops.

"It's ridiculous because we're not telling them to come in here late to get breakfast. So if they come in here late, that's not our fault.  We shouldn't be fined for that," said Margaret Blooom with Mike's Place.

The Retail Merchants Association is opposed to this bill at City Hall.  The organization says the merchant becomes the "fall guy" when it's really the student or parent that should be responsible when they're late for school.

Clarke says it's really directed toward younger students, but applies to all those under 16.

"We'll have a hearing.  Everybody can come.  Store owners can tell us how this is gonna hurt their businesses," she said.

The Retail Merchants Association says this is really different than a 9 a.m. curfew because they often serve food or sell supplies to students before school starts.  

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