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What Are Juvenile Curfew Laws?

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Although some individuals have jobs and other responsibilities that may take them out of their homes during the late hours of the night and early hours of the morning, many New Yorkers are ready to end their days well before midnight so that they are able to rise again for new mornings. For this reason one may notice that the roads are less busy after 10 o’clock in the evening and before 5 o’clock in the morning. It is also the reason that many shops and restaurants close during these twilight hours.

Since there are few activities to do and few reasons for young people to be out, some communities impose juvenile curfew laws on children under the age of 18. A juvenile curfew law establishes a period of time when kids may not be out and about and if they are found to be in violation of the curfew law then they may face criminal sanctions.

There are exceptions, however, to many curfew laws and individuals who are facing charges based on alleged violations of them are encouraged to get familiar with the exceptions to the laws they allegedly broke. If a child is with their parent or out doing something for their parent they may not be in violation of the law; emergencies and going to religious or school functions may also excuse them from being out beyond curfew.

When a young person violates a curfew law their punishment can be significant. While many kids receive fines or community service for their alleged violations, others may have their driving privileges revoked or may be required to spend time in a detention center. Alleged violations of curfew laws can be serious to the futures of youths and therefore should be taken seriously by them and their parents.

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