DC's juvenile curfew zones reinstated under new emergency order ahead of Memorial Day weekend

WASHINGTON - D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a public emergency, allowing the city to reinstate and expand juvenile curfew rules ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. 

The order imposes earlier weekend curfew hours, extends the curfew to include 17‑year‑olds and authorizes the Metropolitan Police Department chief to establish extended juvenile curfew zones in specific areas. 

The emergency order takes effect May 22 and remains in place through June 6.

READ MORE: FBI offers $5K reward in Navy Yard Chipotle assault investigation

Under the order, all youth under 18 are subject to nightly curfew hours with the same responsibilities and exemptions outlined in the Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995. 

The police chief may declare a curfew zone when at least nine youths are expected to gather, or have already gathered, in a way that endangers the safety of young people, residents or the public.

In those zones, youth under 18 are prohibited from gathering in groups of nine or more beginning at 8 p.m.

Why you should care:

Friday evening, Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll announced curfew zones in the Navy Yard, Waterfront, U Street corridor and Banneker areas.

The Navy Yard curfew zone is bound by:

• Interstate 695 (Southeast/Southeast Freeway) from  South Capitol Street, SE to 8th Street, S to the north
• 8th Street, SE from Interstate  695 to the Anacostia River to the east
• The Anacostia River to the south
• South Capitol Street, SE from the Anacostia  River to Interstate 695 to the west

The Waterfront curfew zone is bound by:

• Interstate 695 (Southeast-Southwest Freeway) from the Washington Channel to South Capitol Street, SW to the north
• South Capitol Street, SW from Interstate 695 to Anacostia River to the east
• P Street, SW, from the Washington Channel to 2nd Street, SW and the Anacostia River from 2nd Street, SW, to South Capitol Street, SW to the south
• Washington Channel from Interstate 695 (Southeast/Southwest Freeway) to P Street, SW and 2nd Street, SW, from P Street, SW, to Anacostia River to the west

The U Street Corridor curfew zone is bound by:

• V Street from 13th Street to Vermont Avenue, NW, Vermont Avenue from V Street to Florida Avenue, NW, Florida Avenue from Vermont Avenue to V Street, NW and Florida Avenue from 9th Street to 7th Street, NW to the north
• 9th Street from V Street to Florida Avenue, NW and 7th Street from Florida Avenue to T Street, NW to the east
• T Street from 7th Street to 13th Street, NW to the south
• 13th Street from T Street to V Street, NW to the west

The Banneker curfew zone is bound by:

• Euclid Street from 9th Street to Georgia Avenue, NW to the north
• Georgia Avenue from Euclid Street to W Street, NW to the east
• W Street from Georgia Avenue to 9th Street, NW to the south
• 9th Street from W Street to Euclid Street, NW to the west.

The backstory:

City officials say the expanded curfew authority has been used in a limited and targeted manner as part of a broader strategy to engage youth and prevent crime and disorder.

RELATED: DC Council passes permanent youth curfew after final vote

D.C. lawmakers have approved a permanent law giving the police chief authority to declare extended curfew zones, though that legislation has not yet taken effect.

The legislation makes permanent a policy approach the city had previously implemented through temporary emergency measures and executive action. Those steps were taken in response to so-called "teen takeover" events—large, sometimes chaotic gatherings that officials say have been occurring since 2023.

A wild brawl erupted inside a Chipotle restaurant in Navy Yard last weekend, where video shows two groups of juveniles attacking each other and throwing furniture across the dining area. 

At one point, one youth grabbed a children’s high chair and used it to strike another before hurling it at him. Customers ducked for cover as the fight spilled through the restaurant, with onlookers trying to shield themselves from the chaos.

NewsCrime in the DMVWashington, D.C.Muriel Bowser