Haverford, PA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Article III of Chapter 128 of the Haverford Township Code sets a curfew for any person under the age of 18 years. Section 128-10 defines curfew hours as midnight to 5:00 a.m., Monday through Sunday, seven days per week, so no night of the week is exempt. The Board of Commissioners adopted the article on May 14, 2007 as Ord. No. 2498 and amended it on November 13, 2007 as Ord. No. 2518.

Section 128-11A reaches three groups. A minor commits an offense by remaining in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the Township during curfew hours. A parent or guardian commits an offense by knowingly permitting, or by insufficient control allowing, the minor to remain there. The owner, operator or any employee of an establishment commits an offense by knowingly allowing a minor to remain on the premises. A public place is any place the public or a substantial group of the public can reach, including streets, highways and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities and shops. To remain means to linger or stay, or to fail to leave when a police officer or the owner, operator or other person in control of the premises asks.

Section 128-11B lists the defenses. The minor was accompanied by a parent or guardian; on an errand for a parent or guardian without any detour or stop; in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel; working, or going to or returning home from work, without any detour or stop; involved in an emergency; on the sidewalk outside the minor's own residence or a next-door neighbor's residence, if that neighbor did not complain to the Police Department; or attending, or traveling to or from, an adult-supervised school, religious or recreational activity sponsored by the Township of Haverford, a civic organization, a religious organization or a similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor. An establishment has its own defense: it promptly notified the Police Department that a minor was present and refused to leave.

Section 128-12 limits how officers act. Before any enforcement action, a police officer must ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being in the public place, and cannot issue a citation or make an arrest unless the officer reasonably believes an offense occurred and that no § 128-11B defense is present.