Camden Lawmakers Pass Curfew To Curb Late-Night Crime

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Camden's City Council has again passed a business curfew intended to cut crime around late-night food places in one of the nation's most crime-ridden cities.

Restaurants and stores near residential zones would have to close by 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and by midnight Friday and Saturday.

Liquor stores, gas stations and pharmacies would be exempt.

The rule is to take affect 20 days after the city publishes the regulations, which must be reviewed by state officials.

There's already a threat of legal action to stop the curfew, which is similar to ones courts have twice rejected.

Activist Frank Fulbrook says he'll sue to block the curfew. He says it would harm businesses.

Have you noticed an uptick in crime in Camden since the police layoffs? Sound off in our comments section below…

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)