Curfew Laws in Compton, CA

If you live in Compton or are thinking about moving there, curfew laws are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Compton has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of curfew laws, and some of them might surprise you.

Juvenile Curfew

Compton bars anyone under 18 from public places between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. under Municipal Code Sec. 7-2.2. Officers must ask a minor's age and reason for being out before acting, and the offense is treated as an infraction with a court-set fine rather than a criminal charge, unless the minor demands juvenile court proceedings.

Key details: Curfew hours: 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.. Age covered: Under 18 years old. Daytime school curfew: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. school days. Violation class: Infraction, court-set fine. Truancy program fee: $25 within 48 hours.

A first curfew stop is handled as an infraction, not a misdemeanor, once a peace officer confirms the minor's age and rules out every exemption in Sec. 7-2.3 and Sec. 7-2.5. The Municipal Court, not the police department, sets the fine. A minor may instead request a Welfare and Institutions Code Sec. 601 or Sec. 602 juvenile petition rather than accept the infraction citation, and a truancy referral triggers a separate $25 enrollment fee under Sec. 7-2.8.

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

Park Curfew

Compton parks and recreation centers close to the public at 8:00 p.m. and reopen at 6:00 a.m.; loitering, wandering or remaining inside during those overnight hours is prohibited unless you hold a special permit or are part of a City-sponsored event.

Key details: Park closing time: 8:00 p.m.. Park reopening time: 6:00 a.m.. Exceptions: Special permit or City-sponsored event. Last amended: Ordinance No. 2301. Default penalty: Misdemeanor, up to $1,000/6 months.

As with the rest of Chapter 18's park conduct rules, no specific fine is set for after-hours loitering, so it falls under the citywide default in § 1-6.2: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both, unless charged as an infraction under § 1-6.3, which carries fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a repeat offense within a year, and up to $500 for each further offense in that period.

The Bottom Line

Compton'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 Compton is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Compton's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.