D.C. Mayor Declares Emergency to Extend Expired Juvenile Curfew Rule D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a 15-day public emergency Thursday to reinstate and extend the District’s limited juvenile curfew, which had expired on April 15. The order prevents a gap in the curfew’s enforcement until April 21, when the D.C. Council is set to vote on a potential permanent extension of the law. The curfew, which applies to all individuals under 18 between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., was reinstated to address disorderly behavior, prevent violence, and protect public safety, according to Bowser’s office. The emergency declaration also grants D.C.’s interim police chief, Jeffery W. Carroll, the authority to establish juvenile curfew zones at any time if police determine that more than eight minors plan to gather after 8 p.m. and that the safety of youth, residents, or the public is at risk. This provision supports existing curfew zones in areas like the Navy Yard and the U Street corridor, which have been in place for several months. Carroll emphasized the importance of curfew zones and a citywide 11 p.m. curfew in safeguarding young people, stating, “The safety of our young people is the most important thing to me as Chief of Police and members of the Metropolitan Police Department.” The current order extends actions taken by the Council and the mayor in 2025, when the Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act modified a 1995 law. The 2025 legislation allowed curfew rules to apply to 17-year-olds and to be enforced on weekends, not just weekdays. However, the 2025 law expired on Wednesday, creating a potential lapse in enforcement. Bowser’s emergency order fills this gap until the Council’s next vote on an extension. The Council’s decision remains uncertain, but Bowser’s office has left room for potential changes.#d_c #muriel_bowser #jeffery_w_carroll #pan_african_community_action_group #navy_yard
