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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C ACT 26-317
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
May 14, 2026
‘ToamendtheJuvenileCurfewActof1995toextendtheapplicabilityofthecurfewto17-year-olds,toreplacereferencestothewordjuvenilewithyouth,toauthorizetheMayorandChiefofPolicetodesignateextendedyouthcurfewzones,toestablishspecificnoticeand
signagerequirementsforextendedyouthcurfewzones,toallowAdvisoryNeighborhood‘CommissionstopetitiontheChiefofPoliceforanextendedyouthcurfewzone,toprovideguardrailsontheenforcementofcurfewviolationsinextendedyouthcurfewzones,andtorequiretheprovisionofyouthprogrammingwhenextendedyouthcurfewzonesareestablished.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“Youth Curfew Amendment Actof 2026”.
Sec.2.'TheJuvenileCurfewActof1995,effectiveSeptember20,1995(D.C.Law11-48;D.C.OfficialCode§2-1541e¢seq.),isamendedasfollows:
{a)Section2(D.C,OfficialCode§2-1541)isamendedasfollows:(1)Strikethenumber“17”whereveritappearsandinsertthenumber“18”initsplace.
(2)Striketheword“juvenile”whereveritappearsandinserttheword“youth”initsplace. (3)A newsubsection(b-1)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(b-1)TheCouncilhasdeterminedthatsince2023,theDistricthasseenariseinendangeringsituationsinvolvingunaccompaniedyouth,suchasself-described“takeovers”unsupervisedbyadultsorplannedfights,drivenbysocialmedia,Thefar-reachingnatureofsocialmediaisanovelproblemthattheCouncilmustaddressinnewways.”.
(b)Section3(D.C.OfficialCode§2-1542)isamendedasfollows:(1)Paragraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(1)“ChiefofPolice”meanstheChiefoftheMetropolitanPoliceDepartment”,(2)A newparagraph(1A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(LA)“Curfewhours”means:
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(A)From11:00p.m.onanySunday,Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,otThursday,until6:00a.m.on thefollowingday,and from 12:01a.m.until6:00a.m.on any
SaturdayorSunday;except,thatduringthemonthsof JulyandAugust,theterm“curfewhours”means from 12:01a.m.until6:00 a.m.;and
“(B) Extended curfew hoursinextendedyouth curfew zonesestablished
by theMayor or theChiefof Policepursuanttosection3a.”.
(3)A newparagraph(3A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“@A)“Extendedyouthcurfewzone”meansageographicallydefinedareainwhichextendedcurfewhoursestablishedpursuanttosection3aapply.”.
(4)Paragraph(5)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“undertheageof17 years”andinsertingthephrase“undertheageof18years”initsplace.
(5)A newparagraph(6A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(6A) “Noticeof violationof curfew”means a verbalwarningthatinformsa
minororgroupofminorsthattheyareviolatingthetermsofa curfewandthattheymaybearrestediftheycontinuetoviolatethecurfew,and identifiesreasonablestepstheminor orgroup
ofminorscantaketoavoidarrest.”,
(6)Anew paragraph(12)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(12)“Youth”meansanypersonundertheageof18years,butdoesnotincludeajudiciallyemancipatedminororamarriedminor.”
(c)New sections3aand3bareaddedtoreadasfollows:
“Sec,3a.Temporary extendedyouth curfewzones.
“(a)(1)Byissuanceofan order,theMayorortheChiefofPolicemaydesignateanypartof the Districtas an extendedyouth curfew zone afterdeterminingthatsucha designationis
appropriatetoprotectpublicsafetyorpublicorprivateproperty.Withintheextendedyouthcurfew zone,the Mayor or theChiefof Policemay extendthecurfewhours intheDistrict
beyondthehoursestablishedinsection3(1A)(A).
“(2)Extendedcurfewhoursestablishedpursuanttoparagraph(1)ofthis
subsectionshallnot:
“(A)Beginearlierthan8:00p.m.onanyday,orextendpast6:00a.m,ofthefollowingday;
“(B)Remainineffectformorethan4consecutivedays,exceptas
providedforin subsection(e)ofthis section;or
“(C)Applytogroupsof8orfewerminors,
“(3)Indeterminingwhethertodesignateanextendedyouthcurfewzone,theChief of Policeshallconsider:
“(A)Withinthepreceding30days,theoccurrenceofthefollowingintheproposedextendedyouthcurfewzone:
“(i)Youthcurfewviolations;
“(ii)Policereportsinvolvingminorsofdisturbancesofthepublicpeaceasdescribedinsection1ofAn ActToconferconcurrentjurisdictiononthepolicecourtof
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
theDistrictof Columbia incertaincases,approved July 16,1912 (37 Stat.192;D.C. Official
Code§22-1301),sections6,3,9,or16ofAn actforthepreservationofthepublicpeaceandthe
protectionofpropertywithintheDistrictofColumbia,approvedJuly29,1892(27Stat.323:
D.C, OfficialCode §§ 22-1307,22-1309,22-1312,or 22-1318),section211of the Districtof
Columbia Law Enforcement Act of 1953,approved June 29, 1953 (67 Stat.98; D.C. Official
Code § 22-1321),or section901 of An Act relatingtocrime and criminalprocedureinthe
Districtof Columbia, approvedDecember 27, 1967 (81 Stat.742;D.C. OfficialCode § 22-
1322);
“(iii)Policereportsinvolvingminorsofdangerouscrimesasthat
term isdefinedinD.C. OfficialCode § 23-1331(3);
“(iv)Policereportsinvolvingminorsof crimesofviolence, as that
term isdefinedin D.C. OfficialCode § 23-1331(4);or
“(v)Policereportsinvolvingminorsofdestructionofor damageto
publicorprivateproperty;
“(B) Intelligenceor verifiableinformationindicativeofan intentof 9 or
moreminorstogatherintheproposedextendedyouthcurfewzoneinsuchamannerthatis
likelytoresultinsubstantialharmtothepublicsafety,thesafetyofthosegathering,or
substantialdamagetopublicorprivateproperty;and
“(C)Any otherverifiableinformationfrom which theChiefof Policemay
ascertainthatpublicsafetyorpublicorprivatepropertyintheproposedextendedyouthcurfewzoneislikelytobeendangeredbythepresenceofunaccompaniedminorsintheextendedyouth
curfewzone,
“(b)An orderissuedby theMayor ortheChiefof Policepursuantto subsection(a)of
thissectionshall:
“(1)Statethebasisforthedesignationoftheextendedyouthcurfewzone;
“(2)Statetheboundariesof the extendedyouth curfew zone;and
“(3)Statethedaysandhoursduringwhichtheextendedyouthcurfewzoneshallbe ineffect.
“(©)Exceptwhereemergencycircumstances,asdeterminedbytheMayorortheChiefof
Policeand describedintheorderissuedpursuanttosubsection(a)of thissection,warrant
otherwise,extendedyouth curfew zones imposed under thissectionshallnottakeeffectuntilat
least24hoursafterthepostingoftheorderpursuanttosubsection(d)ofthissection.
“(@)Noticeofanorderissuedunderthissectionshallbepromptlypostedonthemain
websiteofthe Districtgovernment and on thewebsiteofthe MetropolitanPoliceDepartment.The
Mayor or theChiefof Policeshallensurethatconspicuoussignsarepostedintheimmediate area
ofan extendedyouthcurfewzone.Anydigitalnoticeshalllinclude:
“(1)A plain-tanguagedescriptionoflawfulactivitiesthatremainpermittedfor
minorsintheextendedyouthcurfewzone;and
*(2)The locations,days,times,and transportationoptionsforalternativeyouth
eventsrequiredpursuanttosection3b.
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(©TheMayorortheChiefofPolicemayextendthetimeperiodduringwhichan
extendedyouthcurfewzoneimposedbythissectionshallremainineffectbyissuingsubsequentordersextendingthetimeperiod;provided,thateachsuchextensionofthetimeperiodshallnotexceed30days.
“(f)IfmembersoftheMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentdiscoverminorsinanextended
youthcurfewzoneduringthehourstheextendedcurfewisineffect,theMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentshall:
“(1)Wherethere:
“(A)Isnotanimminentdangerofbodilyinjuryorsignificantdamageto
property,issueatleast2clearlyaudibleandunderstandablenoticesofviolationofcurfewpriortoarrestofanyminorforviolationofthecurfew;or
“(B)Isimminentdangerofbodilyinjuryorsignificantdamageto
property,issueatleastoneclearlyaudibleandunderstandablenoticeofviolationofcurfewpriortoarrestofanyminorforviolationofthecurfew;
“(2)Provideminorswithareasonableandadequatetimetodisperse;and
“(3)Captureonbody-worncameraeachcomponentofthenoticedescribedin
paragraph(1)ofthissubsection,
“(g)(1)AnAdvisoryNeighborhoodCommission(“ANC”)maypetitiontheChiefof
Policetoestablishanextendedyouthcurfewzoneinanareawithintheboundsorjurisdictionof,
oradjacenttotheareawithintheboundsorjurisdictionof,theANC.Suchpetitionshallbe
approvedbyaformalvoteofthemembersoftheANC.
“()A petitionsubmittedpursuanttothissubsectionshallincludethefollowinginformation:
“(A)Theproposedboundariesoftheextendedyouthcurfewzone;
“(B)Theproposedhoursoftheextendedyouthcurfewzone;
“(C)Theproposedduration,indays,oftheextendedyouthcurfewzone;
“(D)ThereasonswhytheANC isrequestingthedesignationofan
extendedyouthcurfewzone;and
“(E)SuchotherinformationastheChiefofPolicemayrequire.
“(3)Considerationofa petitionsubmittedunderthissectionandthe
determinationofwhethertodesignateanextendedyouthcurfewzoneinresponsetothepetitionshallbeatthesolediscretionoftheChiefofPolice.
“(h)Forpurposesofenforcingaviolationofcurfewunderthissection,apoliceofficershallnotstop,question,disperse,ortransportaminorbasedsolelyon:
“(1)Presenceinadesignatedextendedyouthcurfewzonepriortothebeginning
ofcurfewhours;
“(2)Presenceinagroupsmallerthanthethresholdsetforthinsection
3a(a)(2)(C);or
“(3)Anyotherfactorthat,standingalone,doesnotconstituteaviolationofcurfewunderthisactoranyotherlaw.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“@)Notwithstandingsubsection(h)ofthissection,theMetropolitanPoliceDepartment
mayissueverbalwarningsofthestartofcurfewhourstominorsbeginningnotmorethan30
minutesbeforethestartofcurfewhours.
“Sec.3b.Positiveyouthprogrammingduringextendedyouthcurfewzones,“(a)The Department ofParksand Recreation(“DPR”) ora community-based
organizationdesignatedbytheMayor,whichmaybesupportedwithgrantfundsprovidedbytheDistrict,shallhostatleastoneeveningeventforminorsforeachperiodthatanextendedyouthcurfew zone isineffect.
“(b)Atthetimeofissuinganordertoestablishanextendedyouthcurfewzone,theMayor ortheChiefofPoliceshallpubliclyannounce thelocations,days,and timesof the
concurrenteventsrequiredundersubsection(a)ofthissection.
“(c)The Mayor ortheChiefof PoliceshallcoordinatewiththeWashington Metropolitan
Area TransitAuthorityand Districtagencies,includingDPR and theOfficeofNeighborhood
Safetyand Engagement, tosupportsafeaccessforminorstoand from eventsheldpursuantto
subsection(a)ofthissection,includingthroughoutreachtominorsandon-the-groundpresence.“(d)DPR orthedesignatedcommunity-based organizationshallmake good faithefforts
toincorporateinputfromyouthintheplanningandimplementationofeventsrequiredundersubsection(2)ofthissection,includinginputonthelocation,hours,andtypesofactivitiesoffered.Tomeetthisrequirement,DPR orthedesignatedcommunity-basedorganizationmay:
“(1)Conductlisteningsessions,focusgroups,orsurveyswithyouth;
“(2)Partnerwithyouth-servingcommunity-based organizations;or
“(3)Establishshort-term,compensatedopportunitiesforyouthtoprovideinputoneventdesignandprogramming.
“(e)Notwithstandingsection4(a)(1),aminorshallnotbedeemedinviolationofcurfewhourswhiletravelingdirectlytoorfromaneventheldpursuanttosubsection(a)ofthissection;provided,thattheminordoesnotengageinanydetourorstopunrelatedtosuchactivity.”.
(d)Section4(c)(D.C.OfficialCode § 2-1543(c))isamended as follows:
(1)Paragraph(2)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“thenearestavailablePoliceDistrictheadquartersor substationorotherareadesignatedby theMetropolitanPolice
Department”andinsertingthephrase“adesignatedplacebytheMetropolitanPoliceDepartment;provided,thatthedesignatedplaceisnotapolicedistrictstationorajuveniledetentioncenter”initsplace.
(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(3)A minorwhoviolatesthisactandissubsequentlydetainedbytheMetropolitanPoliceDepartment shallbe releasedwithina reasonabletimeintothecustodyof
theminor’sparent,guardian,oranadultpersonactinginlocoparentis.Ifsuchpersonisnotimmediatelyavailable,theminormaybetransportedto:“(A)Theminor’sresidence;
“(B)Anyyouthprogrammingeventestablishedundersection3b;“(C)A 24-houryouthdrop-incenter;
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(D)Anothersafelocationidentifiedbytheminor;or
“(B)Ifnoneoftheaboveoptionsareviable,thecustodyoftheappropriateofficialattheChildandFamilyServicesAgency.”.
Sec.3.Sunset.
Thisactshallexpireon December 31,2028.
Sec.4.Applicability.
(a)Amendatorysection3bwithinsection2(c)andsection2(4)shallapplyuponthedateofinclusionoftheirfiscaleffectinanapprovedbudgetandfinancialplan.(b)TheChiefFinancialOfficershallcertifythedateoftheinclusionofthefiscaleffectinanapprovedbudgetandfinancialplanandprovidenoticetotheBudgetDirectoroftheCouncilofthecertification.
(0)(1)TheBudgetDirectorshallcausethenoticeofthecertificationtobepublishedintheDistrictofColumbiaRegister.
(2)Thedateofpublicationofthenoticeofthecertificationshallnotaffecttheapplicabilityoftheprovisionsidentifiedinsubsection(a)ofthissection.
Sec.5.Fiscalimpactstatement.TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommitteereportasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec,6,Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreview
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
asprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbia Home Rule Act,approvedDecember
24, 1973 (87 Stat.813;D.C. OfficialCode § 1-206.02(c)(1)).
) Yolo
Chairman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia
Districtof Columbia
HPPROVED
MAY 14, 2026