What are your thoughts on curfew laws for teenagers?

I am not a big fan of curfew laws at all. On a moral level, I think it’s wrong to limit someone’s movement simply because they haven’t had their 18th birthday yet. Also, curfew laws for teenagers are, I believe, a step in the wrong direction. It is no great leap to start limiting other freedoms.

However, I think there are a number of other issues that go along with curfew laws. Curfew laws mean that 16— and 17-year-old drivers cannot be designated drivers. What if a teenager is escaping a dangerous situation in the middle of the night, whether it is an abusive home, potential rape or rape in progress or some other dangerous situation? Violating curfew might keep them from leaving the dangerous situation or they could get arrested for breaking curfew.

So, collective, what are your thoughts on curfew laws?