Woodbridge, NJ Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Covered ages
- 16 and younger
- First offense
- Written warning only
- Fourth-offense fine
- $100 to $1,000
- Home exception
- Within 50 feet of residence
- Related rule
- Oct. 30-31 Halloween curfew
Summary
Woodbridge bars anyone 16 or younger from public places between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. under § 3-24.3, with exceptions for minors accompanied by a parent, running an authorized errand, or exercising First Amendment rights. Police take violators into custody and release them to a parent, and repeat offenses escalate from a warning to fines up to $1,000.
It shall be unlawful for juveniles to be in any public place within the Township between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and continuing into the morning hours of the following day until 6:00 a.m. any day of the week. The prohibition of Subsection a does not apply if the juvenile is: Accompanied by his/her parent or guardian; Accompanied by an adult authorized by a parent of such minor to take the parent's place in accompanying the minor for a designated period of time and purpose within a specific area; Is engaged in, or traveling to or from a business or occupation which the law of this State authorizes a juvenile to perform; Engaged in an errand involving a medical emergency... No more than fifty (50) feet from his/her place of residence.
Full Breakdown
2 defines 'juvenile/minor' as anyone sixteen or younger and defines 'public place' broadly to include streets, sidewalks, parks, shopping areas and public transportation. m. Six exceptions apply: the minor is with a parent or an adult the parent authorized in their place, is traveling to or from lawful work, is on a medical-emergency errand, is exercising First Amendment rights such as religious or civic events while carrying a parent's signed note stating when and where the minor will be out, or is within fifty feet of home.
4 separately makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to knowingly permit, or through inefficient supervision allow, a juvenile in their care to violate the curfew. 5, an officer who finds a juvenile in violation takes the minor into police custody, notifies the parent or guardian, and releases the juvenile once a parent arrives; if no parent can be located the juvenile goes to juvenile authorities or a temporarily approved adult. A fourth violation gets reported to juvenile authorities as a juvenile in need of supervision, with charges possible in Superior Court, Family Part. Section 3-25 layers on a separate 'Halloween Curfew Ordinance' restricting youth on the streets during the evenings of October 30 and 31 each year.
Violations & Fines
Section 3-24.6 escalates penalties: a first violation draws only a written warning, a second a fine up to $200, a third a fine of $100 to $500, and a fourth or later violation a fine of $100 to $1,000. Community service up to 90 days can also be ordered, and after a second violation the parent or guardian faces prosecution and must perform community service alongside the juvenile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Woodbridge's juvenile curfew start?
Can a Woodbridge teen be out past curfew with a parent's permission?
What happens the first time a Woodbridge minor is caught violating curfew?
Can a parent be punished for a child's Woodbridge curfew violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Woodbridge
Compare Woodbridge to another location·View the New Jersey curfew laws overview
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