Police: Plenty of Places for Teens to 'Hang Out'

Patch's coverage of two recent incidents in the Lexington Kmart parking lot sparked massive discussion last week.

One incident involved teenagers and alcohol and the other involved marijuana. Our story last week brought out opinions on all sides (more than 130 comments).

"We don't want to spend money to hangout," said one Lexington teenager who spoke to Patch about the issue. We don't have someone's house because there is too many people ... .

"As teenagers we do break the law and probably will continue to, but who hasn't. Unfortunately a few ruin it for all. I won't deny that there are idiots that hangout there."

So we went to Police Lt. Matt Davis to ask him: Where should Lexington's young people spend time without getting into trouble?

Davis, who was recognized a year ago as the Officer of the Year by the Lexington Police Department, said there are plenty of places for teenagers to hang out in Lexington — as long as they are following the rules.

"We're not going to run you off," said Davis of most places in Lexington.

The problem is that too many teenagers are crowding into parking lots of local businesses, when few of them are paying customers, Davis said. That can bring about police calls from eateries such as Sonic and Rush's, which are popular fast-food hangouts for young people.

Davis said the problem with the Food Lion and Kmart parking lots, which have long been "safe" places for teens to spend time without getting into trouble, is the behavior of the teenagers.

When customers complain to store employees that teenagers are driving dangerously, executing "donuts" in the parking lot of potentially endangering others, the police are going to be called. Repeated problems with loitering has led to changes in how the town enforces rules.

Kmart, for instance, has presented the town with a written request that all loiterers be asked to leave. Other businesses with large parking lots are able to follow the example. Anytime police believe illegal activities are occuring (drug or alcohol use, for instance), they are going to get involved.

Town parks are also patrolled in the evenings after their 9 p.m. closing time, according to Davis, to make sure no illegal behavior (including vandalism) is occuring. 

Davis' advice is for young people to "hang out" at local businesses and patronize those businesses, making sure they are buying food or drink while they are taking up parking spaces and spending time together.

What do you think: Where should Lexington's young people hang out? Is there a need for additional places for teenagers to spend time together, or will that just cause more problems?