Kate Ryan, wtop.com

WASHINGTON — The debate on when police can tell your kids to get off the street isn’t over yet.

The Montgomery County Council’s Public Safety Committee is holding its third work session on a curfew bill and its second work session on a competing anti-loitering law.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett has been pushing hard to pass his curfew bill, which has been amended to allow exceptions while still giving police the authority to institute a curfew and tell kids younger than 18 to clear the streets after 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on the weekends.

County Council member Phil Andrews has offered a dueling bill. His anti-loitering law would oblige police officers to make a determination that the behavior of someone could pose a danger. It’s that very provision Police Chief Thomas Manger says creates a dilemma for officers. Manger says it opens the door to lawsuits and allegations of profiling or discrimination.

Andrews has countered his bill is modeled on laws that have withstood constitutional challenges. Andrews says the curfew is an overly broad law and fails to get at the real problem — an individual’s actions.

The council committee is expected to vote on the issues on Thursday, and the full council will hear more on the bills next week.

The full council has not yet set a date for a vote.

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