So I keep hearing of places implementing curfews. What is the point of that? Some of them are even under a shelter-in-place order. What does a curfew even do in that situation? I understand stores needing to close to stock and clean, but other than that, why limit them?
Seems to me that the more hours for people to be out doing “necessary” things, then the less people doing them at any particular time. What am I missing?
I think the idea is that nothing necessary happens at night. If it’s dark, you should be home, or you’re partying with other people.
I understand that’s the rationale here in Panama, where there’s a 5 PM to 5 AM curfew. Before the curfew, people were hanging out on the streets together.
Boston has implemented a “recommended” curfew and I’m annoyed with it. I used to go walking late at night because I wouldn’t meet anybody that way. I sort of understand the reasoning but I think it’s overwhelmed by effectively funneling everybody into the same time period.
I can understand preferring to walk late at night, but the Boston curfew leaves 15 hours for people to walk. If you weren’t meeting anyone at night, wouldn’t there be very few additional people funneled into those 15 hours?
The “voluntary” curfew is weird and confusing. I imagine if you are really just out walking by yourself no one will hassle you. I mean, it is voluntary. But who can say how consistent enforcement is.
It would make more sense just to give the cops more power to break up groups of people.
Police forces are being strained by all these. E.g., NYC has 1/6th of its force out sick or in quarantine. (And that was a several days ago.)
Night time is when the craziest stuff happens. The more you can keep people indoors and in check then, the better. Takes a big load off the PD.
I’m (obviously) now crossing paths with more people than before; if I walk by 10 people instead of 0 then I’ve just increased the vector for 10 different people. That feels non-trivial when multiplied by the (admittedly small) number of people who were also out at that time. Plus I’m going out at 11 (or later). There are more people out between 9-11 (curfew starts at 9). It seems counterproductive.
I suppose some people are still stupid enough to do that, but there are many legitimate reasons to be out after hours. Some essential stores close earlier than usual, or may close late instead of being open 24 hours, so that they can do cleaning and restocking. Often that’s done on an overnight shift. Someone has to travel there and back to do that work. Hospital workers are on shift work. Essential industries are on shift work. Food deliveries may happen after hours. In fact I just got back bringing some wine and hand sanitizer to someone who is vulnerable and shouldn’t go out, but should definitely have approved effective sanitizer just in case they do. At the moment I arrived there, someone was just making a food delivery.
Curfews are ridiculous, in my view. People holding parties should be busted and charged appropriately, not people traveling for what may be a legitimate purpose. The other day I passed a house with a huge lineup of cars parked nearby and various balloons floating around. Apparently someone was having a giant birthday bash. That’s what we should focus on.
Thanks for all of the answers! I guess I can understand wanting to reduce people on the streets to reduce work on your police force, although I somewhat disagree with it. At least there is a sensible reason!
As for people congregating at night, seems like that would have already been covered by the shelter-in-place order.
Massachusetts has a stay at home advisory. Not quite as strong as what some places have. They do ban groups of a certain size. Five people maybe? I am not sure. I have not been with anybody outside my household in weeks.
People around here seem to be mostly well behaved. I see groups of two or three walking or jogging together but it’s entirely possible they live together.
But now with so many places closed you really notice all the homeless/addicted/mentally ill people who congregate in the city square and the subway station. I mean, not to judge them. I don’t know their stories but the whole area just seems seedy now. I don’t know where they go at night.