Bill > B26-0460

This bill modifies the Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995 to expand and clarify juvenile curfew regulations in the District of Columbia. The key changes include extending the curfew hours to start at 11:00 p.m. every night and applying the curfew to 17-year-olds (previously it only applied to those under 17). The bill empowers the Mayor to temporarily extend curfew hours across the District and allows the Chief of Police to designate specific "extended juvenile curfew hour zones" when public safety might be at risk. When enforcing the curfew, police must first provide verbal warnings to juveniles, giving them an opportunity to disperse, and must use body-worn cameras to document their interactions. The bill requires that any extended curfew hours cannot begin before 8:00 p.m. or extend past 6:00 a.m., cannot last more than four consecutive days (unless specifically extended), and do not apply to groups of eight or fewer individuals. Local organizations like Advisory Neighborhood Commissions can petition the Chief of Police to establish extended curfew zones, though the final decision remains at the police chief's discretion. The temporary amendments are set to expire on April 15, 2026, providing a time-limited approach to addressing potential public safety concerns.

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0460