Curfew checkpoints start after final whistle, enabling attendance counts before enforcement.

Curfew checkpoints start after final whistle, enabling attendance counts before enforcement

Millford, Pa. — City officials this week outlined a curfew enforcement plan that will activate only after high school football games conclude, a schedule they said balances public safety with the school district’s need to finish counting attendees before minors are classified as being out past legal hours.

The policy arrives alongside a new 10 p.m. curfew for residents under 18, announced last month and justified as a response to safety concerns near downtown. After Friday’s games, officers will position “curfew compliance lanes” at stadium exits but will not begin verifying ages or issuing warnings until the scoreboard reads 0:00 and the event’s final attendance report is time-stamped.

“We heard from the district that Friday gate receipts fund a lot more than helmets,” City Manager Tara Kim said. “The structure ensures all students are counted for revenue purposes before we pivot to counting them for risk management.”

Athletic officials had raised concerns that on-site enforcement before the end of games could depress participation and create unclear optics around family events. In internal memos, they warned that proactively checking student IDs in the first half would “functionally chill attendance in anticipation of citations.” The city’s phase-in plan instructs officers to remain “non-operational” inside a 300-foot buffer until the final horn, at which point enforcement will begin at designated exits.

“Friday nights pay for wrestling mats, bus fuel and, frankly, most of our smaller sports,” said Millford High athletic director Marcus Bell. “It helps to know students won’t be counted as a problem until they’ve been counted at the gate.”

Under the plan, minors leaving with a parent or guardian will be routed to a “family exit” where curfew does not apply. Unaccompanied teens will be guided to a staging area for “courtesy notifications” and, starting 15 minutes after the whistle, citations. The city said stadium staff may continue to process attendance and concession tallies during the 15-minute window to ensure “clean accounting.”

Police Chief Dana Ruiz said the procedure is designed to be visible without being confrontational. “Our officers are trained to watch the clock. At 0:00, we transition from crowd management to curfew compliance. Before then, we are present but not counting birthdays,” Ruiz said. “The goal is to reduce risk without reducing turnout.”