Neshaminy Mall (Bensalem, PA) is NOT a Babysitter!

I believe Neshaminy Mall should implement a Parental Escort Policy for the safety of others & to increase revenue for the stores of Neshaminy Mall.

Malls across America have started implementing a "parental escort policy," which means that teens under the age of 18 will have to be with a parent/guardian who is 21 or over in order to enter the mall. Most malls have these restrictions only on weekend evenings, but some are going so far as to keeping them in place 24-7.

The Mall of America has implemented this policy. Their website states the following…

“At Mall of America®, safety is a top priority.
We welcome all youth to Mall of America®, however on Friday and Saturday evening’s youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older from 4 p.m. until close. One adult may supervise up to 10 youth. During the Parental Escort hours, anyone 21 years or younger should be prepared to show a Mall of America employee identification card or one of the following photo I.D.'s:
▪ United States Driver's License
▪ United States State-issued I.D.
▪ Resident Alien Card
▪ Passport
▪ United States Military I.D.
▪ Mexican Consulate I.D.
▪ Canadian I.D.
No form of college or high school I.D. will be accepted, even if accompanied by a state driver's license permit application.
To obtain a Minnesota State Identification Card, contact your local driver exam office, driver’s license renewal office, or call 651-296-6911”

Since Neshaminy Valley Mall has a movie theater, another mall, Boulevard at Capital Centre in Largo, Maryland, has implemented this policy as well…

“Youths under the age of 18 must determine pick-up arrangements prior to 9:00 p.m. or immediately upon store closing or end of movie. Youths remaining at the Boulevard for the purpose of shopping at a retail establishment after 9:00 p.m. must be picked up at that location.”

An article featured in Time Magazine entitled “Bye-Bye Mall Rats” by Julie Rawe; states, “46 of the 1,200 enclosed malls in the U.S. have adopted parental-escort policies, and others are likely to join them soon…” The article goes on to later state, “As more kids flock to shopping centers, walkways get blocked, older customers jostled and strollers overturned amid the horseplay. Even teens blame their peers. "People just hang out there and do dumb stuff, and we have to pay for it," says Jordan Keinert, 17...”

The safety of others is not the only reason why this policy should be set into place. Mid Rivers Mall (St.Louis, Missouri) put their "parental escort policy" in action and they reported a higher percentage of customers and sales. After a month, their mall traffic was up 5% on Friday/Saturday nights, and depending on the category, sales went up 3% - 10%.

An article featured on ABC News.com entitled “New Policies Exterminating Teen Mall Rats” states the following “…"There has to be a balance," …"The problem a developer has is if it becomes a hangout, it becomes scary for older customer. That's the department store customer, and that's the anchor of the center.” Castaldo of Crossgates Mall said sales across his mall have gone up as older customers have felt welcome again, and now that kids come in with mom and dad's wallets. "Now instead of teens just spending $10 on something, parents are coming in with their credit cards,"

I believe Neshaminy Mall should implement a Parental Escort Policy for the safety of others & to increase revenue for the stores of Neshaminy Mall. Help make this happen by signing this petition & writing to Neshaminy Mall through their website, www.neshaminymall.com.