Newark, NJ Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Section 20:2-4.1 makes it unlawful for a minor under 18 to loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in, or remain upon, public streets, roads, parks, transit facilities, vehicles, vacant lots or other public places within the city, or to be more than 100 yards from home, between 11:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. the following day. The curfew does not apply to a minor accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other adult with care or custody of the minor, or to a minor on a genuine emergency errand directed by that adult, defined narrowly as an errand required to preserve someone's life.

It also exempts minors traveling to or from lawful work, or attending extracurricular school activities or religious, community, cultural, educational or social events that run past 11:00 p.m. Section 20:2-4.2 separately makes it unlawful for a parent, guardian or other adult with care of a minor to knowingly permit the same curfew violation, and adds a school-hours rule: a parent cannot let a minor be in a public place during school hours unless officially excused, and a business owner or employee cannot knowingly let a minor remain on the premises during school hours under the same exception.

A minor picked up for a first violation is brought to the nearest police station under § 20:2-4.3, released to a parent or guardian, and given a written warning. A second violation within six months draws a summons to the minor under § 20:2-4.4, and a third within six months draws a summons to both the minor and the responsible adult, who is then presumed under § 20:2-4.5 to have known of the pattern.