Pardes

Things I recently got to know about Houston:
Incident 1:
A family of 4 (father, mother, a son and a daughter) is going to Havana for vacation.
Mother sends email to the school teacher asking for permission.
School teacher replies back positively with 'Have a nice time' note.
The family enjoys in Havana, comes back and gets a letter from county office saying
'This is a warning for criminal C offense. Your child had an unexcused absence for which you and/or your child may get a sentence to jail or a fine of about $500'
According to the law, the parents should make a phone call to the school EVERY DAY to inform that the kid is going to be absent.

Incident 2:
A group of teens having lunch at a fast food place at around 11:30 in the morning get a ticket by the police.
The Day Time Curfew law does not permit the kids below 18 to go to the public restaurants during school hours (8:30 am till 2:30 pm).