The District’s new juvenile curfew went into effect last week, and the Metropolitan Police Department reported two violations of the policy over the weekend.
The citywide curfew for juveniles 17 and under runs from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily. The curfew is in effect through Aug. 31, MPD said.
MPD said one violation came just after 11 p.m. Friday in the Navy Yard, with another at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1200 block of U Street NW.
The law says that if minors violate the curfew, they can be ordered to perform up to 25 hours of community service. If adults knowingly let a child break curfew or do so through “insufficient control,” they can face a fine of up to $500 or community service.
Locals in the Navy Yard said the area, which saw 20 juveniles arrested for fireworks-related offenses during the Fourth of July weekend, was calmer than before the curfew.
“We didn’t see any problems, and we didn’t have the kids, you know, just riding the bikes and scooters and trying to charge towards us,” Navy Yard resident Pat Beard told Washington’s WJLA-TV, adding that “it’s been a lot better than what it’s been for sure.”
Over the weekend, the police imposed a special curfew zone in the Navy Yard, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and prohibiting youths from gathering in groups of nine or more unless engaged in exempted activities.
Exempted activities include running errands at a parent’s behest, First Amendment activities, work or returning home from a job, being involved in an emergency situation and attending a religious, school or recreational activity sponsored by the city or a civic organization. MPD said no violations or arrests occurred during the extended hours in the Navy Yard.
“Our goal in establishing juvenile curfew zones is never to make arrests or detain youth for curfew violations. Our members work to engage youth and gain compliance, which is exactly what we observed this weekend,” MPD Chief Pamela Smith said.
