Chicopee, MA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

In the City of Chicopee, Massachusetts, Chapter 139 was adopted by the Board of Aldermen (now City Council) on 8-2-1994 by Ord. No. 94-50. Section 139-1(A) bars persons under 17 years of age from loitering or remaining in a public place or establishment or on a public way from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. on weeknights and from 12:00 midnight until 6:00 a.m. on weekends. Subsection A was amended on 7-7-1998 by Ord. No. 98-48.

The chapter defines a public place as any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access, including streets, highways and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities and shops. An establishment is any privately owned place of business operated for a profit to which the public is invited, including any place of amusement or entertainment.

Section 139-2 exempts, among others: minors who are married or who have had the status of minority removed by law; a minor accompanied by a parent or guardian, on an errand for a parent or guardian, or in a controlled supervised activity with prenotification to the Police Department; a minor in a motor vehicle traveling to or from a place of employment or in employment-related activities; a minor attending or going to or from school, religious or civic organizational functions or peacefully exercising First Amendment speech and associational rights; interstate or intercity travel; a minor on the sidewalk in front of the minor's home or a neighbor's home where the neighbor knows of it and has no concerns; and movement during curfew hours due to an emergency that can be verified.

Police officers are to ask and verify the age of any apparent offender where possible and inquire into the reasons for being in a public place during curfew hours, and can issue a citation only if the officer reasonably believes the person violated the chapter and no exception applies. Section 139-3 defines parent to include natural, adoptive and stepparents and persons at least 18 years of age authorized by a parent or guardian to have care and custody. Section 139-5 states the purpose: to increase juvenile safety and to decrease juvenile crime.