WHITE MARSH, Md. (WMAR) — From now on teens under the age of 18 are going to have find somewhere else to hangout on Friday and Saturday nights.
Public safety officers will be patrolling White Marsh Mall and THE AVENUE at White Marsh after 5 p.m. checking IDs for visitors who seem under 18.
RELATED: White Marsh Mall, The Avenue set new curfew for teens on Fridays, Saturdays
“It was long coming just seeing people hang out there for hours on end,” Said Matthew Berkson who lives in the area. “Not buying anything wasting time and space. It doesn’t look good for the mall itself so I believe it’s a great idea.”
Shanda Miller has a 13 year old and a 17 year old.
She said she felt like the mall and THE AVENUE needed to do something but doesn’t think the curfew was the right way to go.
“You kind of lump every teen in that same mix with the ones that are a few bad apples,” said Miller.
Miller said it lessens what her kids can do on the weekends.
“I think everyone wants their to be safety in place but you want your kids to be able to have a good time on the weekends with their friends.”
Berkson argues teens have lots of other options then to hang around the mall while people are shopping.
“They got their friends houses, they got groups and community activities,” said Berkson. “There’s things you can do.”
Parents also need to make sure the underage teens have a ride by 5 p.m., for any teen who is still on the property, even if they are waiting for a ride, by 5 p.m. will be in violation of the policy.
If the teens are going to the AMC Theatres, they must have adult supervision until the movie begins. If there are unsupervised teens in the lobby for longer than ten minutes, they may be asked to leave.
Teens under 17 still will be able to be at THE AVENUE unsupervised until 9 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday. If a teen under the age of 17 is in violation of this new policy, they will be banned from THE AVENUE for three months with or without supervision.
