Sumter County, SC Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

on Saturday or Sunday. A juvenile who remains in a public place, defined broadly to include streets, apartment common areas, recreation facilities, and shops, or on the premises of any establishment open to the public during those hours, commits an offense. A parent or guardian who knowingly permits, or through insufficient control allows, a juvenile to remain out during curfew also commits an offense, as does an owner, operator, or employee of an establishment who knowingly lets a juvenile stay on the premises during curfew hours.

The section lists nine defenses, including being accompanied by a parent or guardian, running an errand at a parent's direction, traveling in interstate or intercounty commerce, working or commuting to a job, responding to an emergency, standing on the sidewalk abutting the juvenile's own or a non-objecting neighbor's residence, attending a supervised school, religious, or recreational activity, exercising First Amendment rights, or being married or otherwise having disabilities of minority removed. Before enforcing, a Sheriff's deputy or other law enforcement officer must ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being out, and may transport a cooperative juvenile home rather than arrest.

00, up to 30 days in jail, or both. A first-time juvenile offender who stops the violation when directed by an officer faces no penalty.