Can Parents Take Away Their Teenager's Cell Phone

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Louisiana and I have a 16 year old who is no longer on our cell phone plan and she purchased a "go" prepaid phone, can we as her parents take the cell phone away? We have been told conflicting answers by the police when she became physically violent and we had call the police.

Yes you can take her phone away. Until she's legally an adult, she does what you guys tell her to do and follows your rules. The police aren't lawyers. Also why are they telling you how to discipline your kid?

Did they arrest her for being physically violent? What happened with that?

You are the parent. The only things you have to provide for her is food, shelter, medical care. Contrary to popular belief cell phone and internet are not needed to live. Where did she get the money to buy the prepaid phone and minutes ? After you take the prepaid phone away from her it might be a good idea to search her and her room daily to be sure she doesn't have another one.

Of course you can take away her cell phone. Best way to discipline a child these days - remove their electronics until they fall into line.

Accordingly to our local police department there is no "LAW" stating we can not take away her cell phone however they could arrest my husband and I because the cell phone she purchased is considered her personal property.
Our response was are you kidding me, she is a minor in our home yet as her parents we can be arrested yet schools can confiscate a minor students's cell phone and keep it....wonder why today's younger generation is the way they are.

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Quoting Staciep

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Accordingly to our local police department there is no "LAW" stating we can not take away her cell phone however they could arrest my husband and I because the cell phone she purchased is considered her personal property.
Our response was are you kidding me, she is a minor in our home yet as her parents we can be arrested yet schools can confiscate a minor students's cell phone and keep it....wonder why today's younger generation is the way they are.

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If there's no law against it, for what charge could they arrest your husband and yourself?

If there is no offense committed ...

Google "kicked out of the garden of eden parenting".

It might be time to try that.

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Quoting Staciep

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Accordingly to our local police department there is no "LAW" stating we can not take away her cell phone however they could arrest my husband and I because the cell phone she purchased is considered her personal property.
Our response was are you kidding me, she is a minor in our home yet as her parents we can be arrested yet schools can confiscate a minor students's cell phone and keep it....wonder why today's younger generation is the way they are.

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I agree those in authority making statements like that are one of the reasons the younger generation is the way they are. Hopefully that officer is inexperienced and now knows better.

Where did your daughter get the money to buy the phone and minutes ? I assume she had her own money or one of her friends or a family member gave her the money.

Good Luck ! I thought it was difficult in the 80's and 90's. But, that was nothing compared to now.

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Quoting Staciep

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Accordingly to our local police department there is no "LAW" stating we can not take away her cell phone however they could arrest my husband and I because the cell phone she purchased is considered her personal property.
Our response was are you kidding me, she is a minor in our home yet as her parents we can be arrested yet schools can confiscate a minor students's cell phone and keep it....wonder why today's younger generation is the way they are.

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What "law" are they going to arrest you for if she calls the police that her parents took her phone to punish her? If you're really concerned go talk to a lawyer as they know the laws better than the police are going to know them.

If your daughter is ballsy enough to call the cops after you take her phone you have some bigger issues. I would never try that on my parents ever if we had cell phones when I was a kid. I would dare my kid to do it if it was me.

I can't find anything that says you can't take your kid's phone as punishment. I'd take the phone and every other damn electronic item - hell I'd clean out her room and leave her bed and dresser and see how she likes that for awhile.

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Quoting qwaspolk69

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What "law" are they going to arrest you for if she calls the police that her parents took her phone to punish her? If you're really concerned go talk to a lawyer as they know the laws better than the police are going to know them.

If your daughter is ballsy enough to call the cops after you take her phone you have some bigger issues. I would never try that on my parents ever if we had cell phones when I was a kid. I would dare my kid to do it if it was me.

I can't find anything that says you can't take your kid's phone as punishment. I'd take the phone and every other damn electronic item - hell I'd clean out her room and leave her bed and dresser and see how she likes that for awhile.

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I would take the dresser too. I would also only allow her to be in her room to sleep and get dressed. She would have to be with the family the rest of the time. Her parents do need to be prepared for her or someone else to call CPS. CPS won't come out just because they took her cell phone. But, daughter or person calling CPS will make up things that will make CPS go out.

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Quoting Staciep

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My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Louisiana and I have a 16 year old who is no longer on our cell phone plan and she purchased a "go" prepaid phone, can we as her parents take the cell phone away? We have been told conflicting answers by the police when she became physically violent and we had call the police.

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I agree with what everyone else said, however there is a slight chance that I might view it differently depending on WHY you want to take away her phone.

I wouldn't be willing to suggest that you take everything away from her at this point. You haven't told us any more than the fact that you want to take her phone away.