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Fort Wayne, IN Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Ages 15-17 weeknight curfew
11 p.m.-5 a.m.
Ages 15-17 weekend curfew
1 a.m.-5 a.m.
Under-15 curfew
11 p.m.-5 a.m. nightly
Max fine (Ch. 130 default)
$2,500
Detention standard
officer must reasonably believe violation occurred

Summary

Fort Wayne bars minors from public places during set night hours: 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weeknights and 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. on weekends for ages 15-17, and 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. every night for kids under 15.

(A) It is a curfew violation for a child 15, 16, or 17 years of age to be in a public place: (1) Between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday; (2) After 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday; or (3) Before 5:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. ... (B) It is a curfew violation for a child under 15 years of age to be in a public place after 11:00 p.m. or before 5:00 a.m. on any day.

Source: Indiana Code 31-37-3View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-60: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. G-19-26, passed 7-14-26, and Res. 83-19, passed 12-17-19 State legislation current through Legislative Service, 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).

Full Breakdown

Fort Wayne's curfew law splits by age. Kids 15 to 17 can't be in a public place after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Kids under 15 face a stricter nightly window: no public presence after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m., any day of the week. Before detaining a minor, an officer must reasonably determine the child violated the ordinance and has no legal defense, per City Code § 130.15, which tracks Indiana's juvenile curfew statute.

Violations & Fines

No curfew-specific fine is listed; general Chapter 130 penalty applies, up to $2,500 per violation, with each day of continued violation a separate offense under § 130.99.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is curfew for 15-17 year olds in Fort Wayne?
11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Can a Fort Wayne officer detain a child just for being out past curfew?
Only if the officer reasonably determines the child violated the curfew and has no legal defense to it, per § 130.15(C).

Sources & Official References

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