{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-2-1542.01","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 2-1542.01","heading":"Temporary extended youth curfew zones.","body":"(a)\n(1)\nBy issuance of an order, the Mayor or the Chief of Police may designate any part of the District as an extended youth curfew zone after determining that such a designation is appropriate to protect public safety or public or private property. Within the extended youth curfew zone, the Mayor or the Chief of Police may extend the curfew hours in the District beyond the hours established in § 2-1542(1A)(A).\n(2)\nExtended curfew hours established pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not:\n(A)\nBegin earlier than 8:00 p.m. on any day, or extend past 6:00 a.m. of the following day;\n(B)\nRemain in effect for more than 4 consecutive days, except as provided for in subsection (e) of this section; or\n(C)\nApply to groups of 8 or fewer minors.\n(3)\nIn determining whether to designate an extended youth curfew zone, the Chief of Police shall consider:\n(A)\nWithin the preceding 30 days, the occurrence of the following in the proposed extended youth curfew zone:\n(i)\nYouth curfew violations;\n(ii)\nPolice reports involving minors of disturbances of the public peace as described in §§ 22-1301, 22-1307, 22-1309, 22-1312, 22-1318, 22-1321, or 22-1322;\n(iii)\nPolice reports involving minors of dangerous crimes as that term is defined in § 23-1331(3);\n(iv)\nPolice reports involving minors of crimes of violence, as that term is defined in § 23-1331(4); or\n(v)\nPolice reports involving minors of destruction of or damage to public or private property;\n(B)\nIntelligence or verifiable information indicative of an intent of 9 or more minors to gather in the proposed extended youth curfew zone in such a manner that is likely to result in substantial harm to the public safety, the safety of those gathering, or substantial damage to public or private property; and\n(C)\nAny other verifiable information from which the Chief of Police may ascertain that public safety or public or private property in the proposed extended youth curfew zone is likely to be endangered by the presence of unaccompanied minors in the extended youth curfew zone.\n\n(b)\nAn order issued by the Mayor or the Chief of Police pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall:\n(1)\nState the basis for the designation of the extended youth curfew zone;\n(2)\nState the boundaries of the extended youth curfew zone; and\n(3)\nState the days and hours during which the extended youth curfew zone shall be in effect.\n\n(c)\nExcept where emergency circumstances, as determined by the Mayor or the Chief of Police and described in the order issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, warrant otherwise, extended youth curfew zones imposed under this section shall not take effect until at least 24 hours after the posting of the order pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.\n\n(d)\nNotice of an order issued under this section shall be promptly posted on the main website of the District government and on the website of the Metropolitan Police Department. The Mayor or the Chief of Police shall ensure that conspicuous signs are posted in the immediate area of an extended youth curfew zone. Any digital notice shall include:\n(1)\nA plain-language description of lawful activities that remain permitted for minors in the extended youth curfew zone; and\n(2)\nThe locations, days, times, and transportation options for alternative youth events required pursuant to § 2-1542.02.\n\n(e)\nThe Mayor or the Chief of Police may extend the time period during which an extended youth curfew zone imposed by this section shall remain in effect by issuing subsequent orders extending the time period; provided, that each such extension of the time period shall not exceed 30 days.\n\n(f)\nIf members of the Metropolitan Police Department discover minors in an extended youth curfew zone during the hours the extended curfew is in effect, the Metropolitan Police Department shall:\n(1)\nWhere there:\n(A)\nIs not an imminent danger of bodily injury or significant damage to property, issue at least 2 clearly audible and understandable notices of violation of curfew prior to arrest of any minor for violation of the curfew; or\n(B)\nIs imminent danger of bodily injury or significant damage to property, issue at least one clearly audible and understandable notice of violation of curfew prior to arrest of any minor for violation of the curfew;\n(2)\nProvide minors with a reasonable and adequate time to disperse; and\n(3)\nCapture on body-worn camera each component of the notice described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.\n\n(g)\n(1)\nAn Advisory Neighborhood Commission (\"ANC\") may petition the Chief of Police to establish an extended youth curfew zone in an area within the bounds or jurisdiction of, or adjacent to the area within the bounds or jurisdiction of, the ANC. Such petition shall be approved by a formal vote of the members of the ANC.\n(2)\nA petition submitted pursuant to this subsection shall include the following information:\n(A)\nThe proposed boundaries of the extended youth curfew zone;\n(B)\nThe proposed hours of the extended youth curfew zone;\n(C)\nThe proposed duration, in days, of the extended youth curfew zone;\n(D)\nThe reasons why the ANC is requesting the designation of an extended youth curfew zone; and\n(E)\nSuch other information as the Chief of Police may require.\n(3)\nConsideration of a petition submitted under this section and the determination of whether to designate an extended youth curfew zone in response to the petition shall be at the sole discretion of the Chief of Police.\n\n(h)\nFor purposes of enforcing a violation of curfew under this section, a police officer shall not stop, question, disperse, or transport a minor based solely on:\n(1)\nPresence in a designated extended youth curfew zone prior to the beginning of curfew hours;\n(2)\nPresence in a group smaller than the threshold set forth in § 2-1542.01(a)(2)(C); or\n(3)\nAny other factor that, standing alone, does not constitute a violation of curfew under this subchapter or any other law.\n\n(i)\nNotwithstanding subsection (h) of this section, the Metropolitan Police Department may issue verbal warnings of the start of curfew hours to minors beginning not more than 30 minutes before the start of curfew hours.","path":["Title 2. Government Administration.","Chapter 15. Youth Affairs.","Subchapter III. Juvenile Curfew."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/2-1542.01","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"d1b5cc7770b865a84810c514ca45cb6b1c24055929005ba7dfd32cd504de93be","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-2-1542","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-2-1542.02"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}