How Ashwaubenon Handles Curfew Laws: A Practical Guide

Ashwaubenon maintains 112 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with curfew laws. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Ashwaubenon falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Juvenile Curfew

Ashwaubenon bars anyone under 17 from loitering or remaining on a street, alley or public place between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. without a parent or guardian, with exceptions for errands, employment, and trips home from supervised school, church or civic events. Parents, amusement operators and lodging operators who let violations happen also face liability.

Key details: Curfew hours (general): 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.. Curfew hours (lodging establishments): 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. Age covered: under 17 years old. First detention: warning only, per § 9-1-15(G). Repeat parental violation penalty: general penalty, § 1-1-13.

Under subsection (H), a parent, guardian or custodian who has already received the required warning and then lets the curfew be violated again is subject to a penalty under the Village's general penalty ordinance, Section 1-1-13, meaning a forfeiture of $1 to $5,000 plus costs of prosecution for a first such penalty, with jail time in default of payment capped at 90 days. A child taken into custody a second time is instead handled under Wisconsin's juvenile code, Wis. Stat. ch. 48, rather than the municipal forfeiture system.

This is one of the stricter rules in Ashwaubenon's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Park Curfew

Every public park and playground in the Village of Ashwaubenon closes nightly from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. under Municipal Code Section 15-2-25. Being present after closing is prohibited unless retrieving a wounded or dead deer or turkey, or unless the parks, recreation and forestry director has issued written permission for a group to stay later.

Key details: Closing hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.. Exemption: Written permission from parks director. Enforced by: Village police, park security officers. First-offense fine: $1 to $5,000 forfeiture. Continuing violation: Separate offense each day.

A curfew violation is punished as a general Chapter 15 offense under Section 1-1-13: a first offense carries a forfeiture of not less than $1.00 nor more than $5,000.00 plus prosecution costs, with up to 90 days in the county jail if the forfeiture and costs go unpaid. A second offense for the same ordinance within one year raises the default-jail exposure to six months, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Ashwaubenon's curfew laws rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Ashwaubenon is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Ashwaubenon can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.