Howell, NJ Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Chapter 118 of the Howell Township Code defines a juvenile in § 118-1 as an individual under the age of 18. A public place is any place to which the public has access, including a public street, road, sidewalk, bridge, alley, plaza, park, recreation or shopping area, public transportation facility, vehicle used for public transportation, parking lot or any other public building, structure or area. Section 118-2(A) bars a juvenile from being on or upon any public place, on foot or on any type of conveyance, between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

The curfew does not apply when the juvenile is accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult having care and custody; is on an emergency errand or legitimate business directed by that adult; is gainfully employed at the time; attends evening school as a bona fide student; attends a function sponsored by a religious or educational organization, association or society; or attends a properly supervised civic or private recreational function. Subsection A(7) also covers a juvenile traveling the public streets after the hour while returning home from the employment, school, religious, educational or recreational activity in those exceptions.

For the emergency errand exception, § 118-2(B) requires the juvenile to carry a note or document signed by at least one parent, guardian or other adult having care and custody. The note must state the nature of the errand, the necessity for it, the place the juvenile is going, and the date and hour the note was issued.

Section 118-3 makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to allow a juvenile to be in a public place in violation of § 118-2, subject to the same seven exceptions. Under § 118-4, a police officer or special officer who apprehends a juvenile violating the chapter may take the juvenile into custody, must notify the parent, guardian or custodial adult of the violation and the penalty, and may release the juvenile immediately into that adult's custody.