Curfew Regulations

Ordinance
The current state statute covering curfew is as follows:

720 ILCS 555/1(a) - It is unlawful for a person less than 17 years of age to be present at or upon any public building, place, street or highway at the following time unless accompanied and supervised by a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible companion at least 18 years of age approved by a parent or legal guardian or unless engaged in a business or occupation which the laws of this State authorize a person less than 17 years of age to perform.

Curfew Hours
  • Between 12:01am and 6 am Saturday
  • Between 12:01am and 6 am Sunday
  • Between 11pm on Sunday to Thursday, inclusive and 6am the following day
Exceptions
  • When the juvenile is on an errand at the direction of the minor's parent or guardian, without any detour or stop
  • When the juvenile is in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel
  • When the juvenile is engaged in an employment activity or going to or returning home from an employment activity, without any detour or stop
  • When the juvenile is involved in an emergency
  • Per the Illinois Curfew Law, an "Emergency" is defined as an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action. The term includes, but is not limited to a fire, a natural disaster, an automobile accident, or any situation requiring immediate action to prevent serious bodily injury or loss of life
  • When the juvenile is on the sidewalk abutting the minor's residence or abutting the residence of a next-door neighbor if the neighbor did not complain to the police department about the minor's presence
  • When the juvenile is attending an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by a government or governmental agency, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor, or going to or returning home from, without any detour or stop, an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by a government or governmental agency, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor
  • When the juvenile is exercising First Amendment rights protected by the United States Constitution, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, and the right of assembly
  • When the juvenile is married or had been married or is an emancipated minor under the Emancipation of Minors Act [750 ILCS 30/1 et seq.]