CURFEW ORDINANCE SUMMARY

PHILADELPHIA CURFEW ORDINANCE

Minors can not be in a public place from the beginning of curfew until 6:00 AM the following day unless:

The minor is with his or her parent;
The minor is running an errand or doing legitimate business at the direction of his or her parent;
The minor is engaged in lawful employment during curfew hours; or
The minor is on active duty in one of the branches of the United States military.

Parents, guardians or custodians can not knowingly allow minors to remain in a public place from the beginning of curfew until 6:00 AM the following day.
Business owners and their agents or employees can not knowingly permit a minor to remain on their premises from the beginning of curfew until 6:00 AM the following day.

CURFEW HOURS FOR MINORS 13 TO 17 YEARS OLD

School Year Labor Day to the day before Memorial Day		Summer Memorial Day to the day before Labor Day
Weekdays Sunday to Thursday	Weekends Friday and Saturday	Weekdays Sunday to Thursday	Weekends Friday and Saturday
10:30 PM to 6:00 AM	Midnight to 6:00 AM	10:30 PM to 6:00 AM	Midnight to 6:00 AM

CURFEW HOURS FOR MINORS UP TO 12 YEARS OLD

School Year Labor Day to the day before Memorial Day		Summer Memorial Day to the day before Labor Day
Weekdays Sunday to Thursday	Weekends Friday and Saturday	Weekdays Sunday to Thursday	Weekends Friday and Saturday
9:00 PM to 6:00 AM	10:00 PM to 6:00 AM	9:30 PM to 6:00 AM	10:00 PM to 6:00 AM

October 30 (Mischief Night) and October 31 (Halloween) are classified as weekdays regardless of the actual calendar day of the week.

ENFORCEMENT OF PHILADELPHIA CURFEW ORDINANCE

A police officer who finds that a minor has violated the curfew ordinance must get the following information from the minor:

Take the minor home

Send the name and address of the minor’s parent, guardian or custodian to the Juvenile Bureau.

The Juvenile Bureau will send written notice of the curfew violation and penalties to the minor’s parent, guardian, or custodian.

Take the minor to a police status district and issue a citation

Immediately notify the parent, guardian or custodian of the minor’s whereabouts so the minor can be picked up at the police station.
Issue written notice of the curfew violation to the parent, guardian or custodian.
Determine whether DHS should be notified if the minor’s parent, guardian or custodian cannot be located in a reasonable time.

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS

OF PHILADELPHIA CURFEW ORDINANCE

Minors

Parents, Guardians, Custodians

Business Owners and their Agents or Employees

First Violation:

Up to $250 fine or community service

Subsequent Violations:

$300 to $500 fine or community service

First Violation:

Warning

Second Violation:

Up to $150 fine

Subsequent Violations:

$300 to $500 fine

Each repeat offense after receiving notice of two or more previous violations:

Up to $300 fine

and/or

Up to 90 days in jail

All Violations:

$250 to $450 fine and/or immediate revocation of business privilege license

Each repeat offense after one violation:

Up to $300 fine

and/or

Up to 90 days in jail