Downey, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

and makes it unlawful for any minor, defined as anyone under 18, to remain in a public place or on the premises of a business establishment during those hours; the same section separately makes it unlawful for a parent, guardian or other person with legal custody to knowingly permit, or through insufficient control allow, a minor to do so, and for a business owner, operator or employee to knowingly let a minor remain on the premises during curfew. Subsection (c) lists defenses, including being accompanied by a parent, guardian or a responsible adult at least 18; running an errand at a parent's direction without detour; traveling in a vehicle on an interstate or intrastate trip; going to or from work; responding to an emergency; standing on the sidewalk next to the minor's own residence; attending or traveling to a school, religious or City-sponsored supervised activity; exercising First Amendment rights; or being an emancipated minor.

Before citing anyone, subsection (d) requires an officer to ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being out, and bars a citation unless no defense reasonably appears to apply. Under subsection (e), a minor's first infraction under (b)(1) is punishable by a fine under §1200(d), but the court may set the fine aside if the minor has no further violations, completes 10 hours of court-approved community service, and a parent or guardian attends a court-approved parenting class; a parent, guardian or business operator who violates (b)(2) or (b)(3) is guilty of a misdemeanor, and a cited minor must attend a court hearing accompanied by a parent or guardian. 5, separately bars school-age minors from public places during school hours on days school is in session.