Some upset over Collier County curfew

Collier County still has mandatory curfews in place in some areas almost a month after Hurricane Ian.

Collier said on their website the purpose of the curfew is to protect you as they begin the process of recovering from the effects of Hurricane Ian. But areas hit harder than Collier County, and with way more repair work to be done, have no curfew.

The curfew is still in effect in parts of Collier County from midnight until 6 a.m. That goes for both incorporated and unincorporated areas south and west of US-41. In Naples, the curfew starts at 10 p.m. and goes for residential areas within the city limits.

Some people say they have mixed feelings about the curfew. Joseph Marinaro is not happy about still having a curfew in place.

“I don’t think there should be a curfew,” Marinaro said. “There are Americans in the sphere of America whose assistance… government should not be in our lives to tell us how to live what to do.”

While Diane Aberly says she thinks it’s a good idea.

“The curfew makes sense. I’m sure you’re going to have the other kinds of people out looting and taking and getting wherever they can, and that’s not right. So many people have lost so much down here,” Aberly said.

Collier County said the purpose of the curfew is to protect the safety of the citizens and their properties as they begin to recover from Hurricane Ian.

The Naples Police Department and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office are also working together to manage the curfew.

The curfew does not apply to emergency responders, employees at healthcare facilities, critical staff for businesses that provide essential services, or those seeking medical assistance. A violation of the curfew is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Lt. McGin said arrests have already been made in Naples.

“Not because of the looting, but with the curfew violations we have taken. We have made more than 10 arrests. But our officers have issued over 100 just verbal warnings. So they’re really using the discretion given to them to basically use, like I said, use that discretion to look for those that may have nefarious intent, as to you know why they’re in the area and do a little bit more investigative digging, than to just you know, blanketly arrest everybody that they come in contact with past the curfew,” McGin said.

Collier County officials said the curfew is something they often discuss as they look to protect property owners who don’t have their power back yet.