Lake Charles, LA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew age
- Under 17 years old
- Weeknight hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Sun-Thu
- Weekend hours
- Midnight to 5:00 a.m., Fri-Sun
- Governing section
- City Code § 13-5.1
- Parent penalty
- Up to $100 fine or 30 days jail
- Key exceptions
- Parent escort, emergency errand, work, supervised activity
Summary
Lake Charles bars minors under 17 from being out in public unsupervised between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and between midnight and 5:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sec. 13-5.1 exempts minors accompanied by a parent or guardian, running an emergency errand, coming from a supervised school or church activity, or traveling to and from a job.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any minor under the age of 17 years of age to loiter, idle, wander, walk, stroll or play in or on the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, other public places and public buildings, vacant lots or other unsupervised places, or otherwise be out in public and away from home in a boat, motor vehicle or other vehicle in the city, Monday through Thursday, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day or Friday, Saturday and Sunday, between the hours of 12:00 p.m. (midnight) and 5:00 a.m. of the following day, provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to a minor accompanied by his or her parents, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor; or where the minor is upon an emergency errand, or when the minor is in attendance at a supervised activity sponsored by a school, church, the recreation department of the City of Lake Charles, Louisiana, or by a group of parents...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 1 sets Lake Charles's juvenile curfew for any minor under 17. m. The ordinance covers loitering, idling, wandering, walking, strolling or playing on public streets, highways, alleys, parks, public buildings and vacant lots, and also reaches minors out in public in a boat or motor vehicle. Four exceptions apply: a minor accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult with care and custody of the minor; a minor on a genuine emergency errand; a minor coming directly home by the shortest route from a supervised activity sponsored by a school, church, the city's recreation department, or a group of parents; and a minor traveling directly to or from legitimate, gainful employment.
Subsection (b) separately makes it unlawful for a parent, guardian or other person having care and custody of a minor under 17 to knowingly permit the child to violate the curfew. 00 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both, at the court's discretion. The ordinance traces to Ord. No. 4212 (1970), amended by Ord. Nos. 5883 (1977) and 8177 (1985).
Violations & Fines
A minor caught out in violation of the curfew is referred to Louisiana's Juvenile Laws rather than charged as an adult. A parent, guardian or other custodian who knowingly lets a minor under 17 violate the curfew can be fined up to $100.00, jailed up to 30 days, or both, at the court's discretion, under Sec. 13-5.1(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the juvenile curfew in Lake Charles?
Are there exceptions to the Lake Charles curfew?
Can parents be punished if their child breaks curfew in Lake Charles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake Charles
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