An “adult” curfew for Seminole’s downtown district is being researched to help deter crime, City Manager Steve Saxon told a group of merchants Thursday.

The idea of a curfew was pitched last month in an initial meeting between city officials and downtown merchants to discuss the rising crime rate in the downtown district. At that meeting, Saxon said he would take the curfew issue to the city council. Adoption of a curfew applicable to adults and juveniles alike was on the agenda of Tuesday’s council meeting, but no action was taken.

Saxon said Thursday in a follow-up meeting with the merchants that more research is needed before a curfew ordinance can be adopted by the city council. He explained that the Supreme Court had ruled that placing adults under a curfew is an infringement on personal freedom, and the city would likely be challenged in court if the city adopts such an ordinance.

“I’m not saying no,” Saxon said. “I think it’s good, but there’s more research to be done,” Saxon said. “We’re looking for someone who has had an adult curfew upheld in the courts.”

The curfew ordinance presented to the council Tuesday stated that it would be unlawful for anyone to be to be downtown, whether on foot or in a vehicle, between midnight and 5 a.m. unless they are working or attending a function such as a religious gathering. The law would not apply to someone who lives downtown, first responders, utility workers or anyone returning home by direct route.

While the curfew idea is still up in the air, Saxon did have some good news for Thursday’s meeting attendees: “The dumpster bandit has been caught,” he told the crowd. Dumpster diving and illegal dumping was a hot topic at last month’s meeting.

Saxon also said that new lighting courtesy of OG&E would be installed downtown to help improve safety and that police patrol has been beefed up in the downtown area since the last meeting.

The city manager also suggested that the merchants look into forming a Business Improvement District, which could help them fund security needs and help them with curb appeal.

Another meeting has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 20 at the Seminole Public Library.