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Community Members, Authorities Enforce City's Curfew

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - At 9 p.m. Friday, community members joined city leaders, determined to walk the walk in their fight against flash mobs. Now, going into its second night, the curfew is still in full force as Philadelphia Police stopped and checked IDs and anyone under 18 was taken off the street and taken to the police station to be picked up by their parents.

The new curfew regulations are designed to curb flash mobs that have so far struck twice this summer, robbing and beating random victims on Center City streets.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, in the hours before the curfew kicked in on Friday, was busy conducting network television news interviews, participating in a "live" online chats, and tweeting the message that flash mobs will not be tolerated.

City officials want to remind the public they have extended hours at certain recreation centers and libraries throughout the city to provide an alternative, a friendlier environment for the city's children to pass time, to let kids be kids.

Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison explained, "We're not just saying don't. We're saying this is something you can do."

Commissioner Ramsey added, "It'll last thru the summer but it'll last for as long as we need it to last. So I have no end date in sight, we're going to do all that we can for as long as we have to."

As of 7 p.m. Saturday, police said they had taken about 50 teenagers off the street for violating curfew. Those who violate the curfew get a warning the first time. Repeat offenders could get slapped with a fine up to $500.

Eyewitness News spoke to one man, who didn't want to disclose his full name, about his 17-year-old sister who was taken to the 3rd district police station for violating the city's curfew.

"My sister got picked up. I mean she is a straight 'A' student. I could see if she was one of the kids out here flash mobbing or getting into trouble, smoking or drinking and all that. But she is a straight 'A' student. I feel kind of upset because this whole curfew, influence on the city thing, grips up the good kids instead of the bad kids. It's like why can't the good kids celebrate neither."

Mayor Nutter was at Erie Lanes Bowling in Philadelphia where he tried to encourage teens to do something else besides being on the street late at night.

The following is a list of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Sites with Extended Hours & Activities Planned:

Northern Liberties Recreation Center – 321 Fairmount Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – Volleyball Tournament – games

Murphy Recreation Center – 300 Shunk Street
Computer Lab
3 on 3 Basketball
Foul Shooting Contest

Vare Recreation Center – 2600 Morris Street
Saturday, August 13th – Ping Pong and 3 on 3 basketball

Myers Recreation Center – 5800 Kingsessing Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – Ping Pong, Basketball, Computer Programs

Christy Recreation Center – 728 S. 55th Street
Saturday, August 13th – Basketball, Computer Programs

Kingsessing Recreation Center – 5000 Chester Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – Basketball, Computer Programs, Ping Pong

Shepard Recreation Center – 5700 Haverford Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – Basketball, Computer Programs

Gustine Recreation Center – 4863 Ridge Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – 3 on 3 Basketball tournament, art project (mosaic on outside of building)

Gathers Recreation Center – 2501-19 W. Diamond Street
Saturday, August 13th – Art, Spark activities, softball challenge

Athletic Recreation Center – 1401-27 North 27th Street
Saturday, August 13th – Basketball, boxing, movie and games in the lobby, chess, table tennis

Vogt Recreation Center – 4131 Unruh Street
Saturday, August 13th – Volleyball and basketball

Samuel Recreation Center – 3539 Gaul Street
Saturday, August 13th – Indoor soccer and basketball

McVeigh Recreation Center – 400-64 D Street
Saturday, August 13th – Ping pong tournament and game room activities

Feltonville Recreation Center – 231-37 East Wyoming Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – Exercise room, video games, basketball

Lonnie Young Recreation Center – 1100 E. Chelten Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – Movie night in gym

Happy Hollow Playground – 4740 Wayne Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – Basketball and volleyball

Olney Recreation Center – 100 E. Godfrey Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – Basketball – 3 on 3 games

Lawncrest Recreation Center – 6000 Rising Sun Avenue
Saturday, August 13th – 3 on 3 basketball, ping pong tournament

Simons Recreation Center – 7200 Woolston Avenue
August 13th – Movie in lobby, two groups of teens in gym for basketball

Fox Chase Recreation Center – 7901 Ridgeway Avenue
Saturday, August 13th - 3 on 3 basketball, indoor soccer, weight room, games

Reported by Elizabeth Hur, Walt Hunter and Jericka Duncan, CBS 3; Mike Dunn and Cherri Gregg, KYW Newsradio

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