It’s Friday night.  You’re out.  Partying, enjoying a break from the stress-filled week you just endured. Then you glance at your watch.It’s 9:50 p.m. and — instead of thinking about where you are headed next — you’re thinking about going home at 10 p.m. on a Friday night. Policemen scream over their car speakers, “10 minutes. 10 minutes till jail time.”They’re not kidding. And it’s a good thing they aren’t.It’s 9:50 p.m., and instead of thinking about where you are headed next, you’re thinking about going home at 10 p.m. on a Friday night. Policemen scream over their car speakers, “10 minutes. 10 minutes till jail time.”They’re not kidding. And it’s a good thing they aren’t.Since Hurricane Gustav pounded Baton Rouge, Mayor-President Kip Holden declared an indefinite curfew for all of the Capital City area.Curfew was originally enforced from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., but as the city has recovered it’s been reduced to 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.This curfew is necessary. While it may not be easy to adjust to, history tells us a curfew’s better than the alternatives.According to Entergy officials, approximately 21 percent of Baton Rouge residents are still without power. There is still a relatively large area of the city completely without power. As Katrina taught us, looting and crime can be problematic when the lights go off — so it makes sense to keep law-abiding citizens off the streets to aid police in preventing crime.The lack of working traffic lights is also a problem. With nearly 40 percent of traffic lights still out, what is inconvenient by day becomes a hazard by night — and without functioning traffic and street lights, driving at night is hazardous for both drivers and passengers. Law enforcement is not only restricting time outside for safety reasons. The amount of damage sustained in East Baton Rouge parish is massive. Officials have been working around the clock to repair every part of town. Most of the areas they are reviving are public and populated.  Staying off the roads during reconstruction increases the speed of recovery.Although city-parish officials don’t say when the curfew is going to end, we believe the curfew should stick around till the city is fully restored to power — especially with Ike still lurking around the Gulf.  —-contact the Editorial Board at [email protected]