East Orange, NJ Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Chapter 127, adopted in 1980 and rewritten in its entirety in 1997 as the 'Juvenile Curfew Ordinance for the City of East Orange 1997,' defines curfew hours as 11:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and applies to anyone who has not attained the age of 17 (§ 127-3). Under § 127-4, it is unlawful for a minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of a business establishment during those hours, for a minor to be in a public place during school hours without an excuse, and for a parent, guardian, or establishment owner or employee to knowingly permit either violation.

Section 127-6 lists defenses: the minor is accompanied by a parent or another adult authorized by a parent, is responding to an emergency, is exercising First Amendment rights, is on the sidewalk abutting the minor's or a consenting neighbor's home, is coming directly from a school or civic activity within 30 minutes, or carries a special permit issued by the Chief of Police. Before enforcing, § 127-8 requires an officer to ask the minor's age and reason for being out and first issue a warning directing the minor home; a detained minor is taken to East Orange Police Department headquarters and released to a parent or guardian. A fourth violation can be referred to Family Part as a Code of Juvenile Justice matter under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-20.