Natchez students who skip school could soon find themselves riding in a police car. Natchez Police will begin enforcing the City’s new daytime curfew ordinance this week.

The curfew requires students to be in school during school hours. If they are not, police are now authorized to pick them up and take them to the police station. The board of aldermen approved the ordinance Oct. 12.

Since then, Natchez Police Willie Huff has sent letters to all the schools asking them to inform parents.

&uot;Generally I expect pretty good compliance with the law,&uot; he said.

Police will only target students who are actually skipping school. Students with a legitimate excuse, such as work study, will not be picked up, Huff said.

Brenda Williams, Natchez High School principal, agrees innocent students have nothing to worry about.

&uot;I don’t know why people seem to think the police are wanting to get people in trouble,&uot; she said.

The officer will take offending student to the police station and notify the parents, youth court and the school. If a child is picked up a second time, the parent will be fined $25 and the fine will go up for additional offenses, Huff said.

Williams said the curfew will also help the schools deal with suspended students. Often students try to get suspended to get out of school, she said. But suspended students are not supposed to be out on the street. &uot;They just can’t get out and enjoy enjoy themselves,&uot; Williams said. &uot;Some of them are guilty of that.&uot;