Elizabeth, NJ Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Covered ages
- Under 18 years old
- Max fine
- $1,000.00 plus community service
- State authority
- Ch. 132, N.J. Laws of 1992
- Exceptions
- Medical errands, school activities, religious/community events
Summary
Elizabeth bars juveniles under 18 from being on any public street between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or traveling to or from lawful work. Municipal Code Section 9.32.030, adopted under the state's 1992 curfew-enabling law, also makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to allow an unaccompanied juvenile out during those hours.
A. It is unlawful for a juvenile of any age under eighteen (18) years to be on any public street between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by the juvenile's parent or guardian or unless engaged in, or traveling to or from, a business or occupation which the laws of this state authorize a juvenile to perform. B. It is unlawful for any parent or guardian to allow an unaccompanied juvenile to be on any public street or in any public place between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31).
Full Breakdown
32 was adopted under the authority of Chapter 132, Laws of New Jersey 1992, with findings that unsupervised overnight hours expose children to drugs, crime and other threats, and that curfew ordinances support family unity and parental supervision. 020 defines a "juvenile" as anyone under 18 and a "public place" broadly to include streets, sidewalks, bridges, alleys, plazas, parks, shopping areas, public transportation facilities and parking lots. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or engaged in, or traveling to or from, a business or occupation state law authorizes a juvenile to perform; subsection B separately makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to allow an unaccompanied juvenile on a public street or in any public place during those same hours.
m. 050 confirms the ordinance's prohibitions and exceptions were drafted to satisfy the standards Chapter 132 of the 1992 New Jersey laws requires for enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Section 9.32.060 penalizes any violator, whether the juvenile or the parent or guardian, with required community service and a possible fine of up to $1,000.00. If both the juvenile and the parent or guardian violate the chapter, the ordinance requires them to perform the community service together rather than separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Elizabeth's juvenile curfew hours?
Can a parent be fined for a child breaking curfew?
Are there exceptions to the Elizabeth curfew?
What happens if both a juvenile and parent violate the curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Elizabeth
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