Janesville, WI Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Chapter 24's Curfew Ordinance, Division 6 of Article III, opens with a stated intent in Section 24-508: protecting children from becoming victims or perpetrators of crime, assisting parents, and shielding the community from unsupervised minors out late. Section 24-509 then bars any person under 17 from congregating, loitering, wandering, strolling, standing or playing, on foot or in any vehicle, in public streets, highways, alleys, parks, greenbelts, public buildings, playgrounds, school grounds, places of amusement, dance halls, premises licensed to sell alcohol, or vacant lots or buildings, during set hours: 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Sunday through Thursday nights, and midnight to 5:00 a.m. following Friday and Saturday nights. Section 24-510 lists seven exceptions, including a minor accompanied by a parent or guardian, responding to an emergency, traveling directly to or from work, school or another excepted activity, performing an errand for a parent, attending a supervised school, religious or recreational activity, or engaging in activity protected by the First Amendment. Section 24-511 separately makes it unlawful for a parent, guardian or other adult with custody to willfully permit a child to violate the curfew.

Section 24-512 sets the penalties: a minor who violates the curfew faces a forfeiture of up to $250 per offense, with the court able to order a supervised work or community-service program under state law instead of or in addition to a forfeiture, while a parent or guardian who violates Section 24-511 faces a forfeiture of up to $500 per offense.