Surprise, AZ Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Sun-Thu curfew
- 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Fri-Sat curfew
- Midnight to 5:00 a.m.
- Covers
- Any person under 18
- Parent liability
- Class 1 misdemeanor if knowingly allowed
- Defenses
- 7 listed, incl. work, errands, emergencies
Summary
Surprise bars anyone under 18 from being on a public street, alley or public place between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and between midnight and 5:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, under City Code Sec. 34-106. Parents and guardians who knowingly let a minor violate the curfew face the same class 1 misdemeanor charge as the minor.
Minor means a person under the age of 18 years.(b)It is unlawful for any minor to remain upon, go or be upon any public street, alley or other public place of the city between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.(c)It is unlawful for any parent, guardian or other person above the age of 17 years having legal custody of the minor to allow or permit such minor to violate this section.
Full Breakdown
Sec. m. on Friday and Saturday. Subsection (c) extends liability to any parent, guardian or other person over 17 having legal custody of the minor who allows or permits the minor to violate the curfew. Subsection (d) lists seven affirmative defenses a minor can raise: being accompanied by a parent, guardian or an adult the parent designated; running an errand at a parent's direction without any detour; traveling interstate in a motor vehicle; going to, from, or engaged in employment without detour; responding to an emergency such as a fire, natural disaster or accident; attending or traveling directly to or from a school, religious or adult-supervised recreational activity sponsored by the city, a civic organization or similar entity; or being married, having been married, or having had the disabilities of minority removed by law.
Subsection (e) authorizes any peace officer with jurisdiction in the city to detain a minor for the limited purpose of notifying a parent or guardian that the minor was found in violation. Subsections (f) and (g) make a violation by either the minor or the responsible adult a class 1 misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 34-106(f) makes a minor's curfew violation a class 1 misdemeanor, and subsection (g) imposes the same class 1 misdemeanor charge on any parent, guardian or custodian over 17 who knowingly allows the violation. An officer may detain the minor solely to notify a responsible adult under subsection (e), separate from any criminal charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Surprise's juvenile curfew hours?
What defenses can a minor raise against a Surprise curfew citation?
Can a parent be charged if their child breaks curfew in Surprise?
Can Surprise police detain a minor found violating curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Surprise
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Juvenile Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle juvenile curfew.