Overview
- The order, which took effect Thursday, imposes an 11 p.m. citywide curfew for those under 18 through May 1 and revives police power to set targeted zones that can start at 8 p.m.
- City officials said the step follows weeks of large youth gatherings in hot spots like Navy Yard, including a March 14 episode with multiple robberies and a 15-year-old firing a gun.
- In a designated zone, groups of nine or more minors are not allowed to gather after 8 p.m., with exemptions for work, school events, emergencies, First Amendment activity, or being with a parent; parents can face up to a $500 fine or community service.
- MPD’s interim chief called the curfew a safety tool and reported 14 curfew zones so far in 2026 with seven violations, with officers keeping a strong presence in areas that have seen disorder.
- The council let the prior curfew authority lapse on April 15 and plans to revisit it on April 21, while advocates argue curfews do not cut crime and may unfairly impact Black youth in certain wards.