The Council of the District of Columbia voted Tuesday to extend a citywide youth curfew permanently, but tabled a separate measure that would have allowed the restrictions to take effect immediately, leaving enforcement in the near term uncertain.
In an initial vote, council members advanced a bill to make the curfew permanent, setting an 11 p.m. citywide curfew for minors and allowing police to impose earlier restrictions in designated zones where large gatherings, dubbed “teen takeovers,” have led to violence or disorder.
The legislation still requires a second vote and congressional review before becoming law, and by holding off on approving emergency legislation that would implement a curfew right away, there could be a gap in enforcement when the emergency youth curfew order expires May 1.
The final vote was 8-5, with mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George, Zachary Parker, Robert White, Trayon White, and Brianne Nadeau voting “no.”
Mayor Muriel Bowser has deemed a youth curfew necessary for public safety and said she is pleased with the council’s decision to move forward on a permanent curfew, but added their decision to let the emergency measure expire could lead to unsafe circumstances.
“While I am pleased that the Council advanced the permanent juvenile curfew legislation, their continued inaction on extending the juvenile curfew through the spring and summer leaves our city without a critical tool for keeping our neighborhoods safe and free from disorderly behavior,” Bowser wrote on social media.
