Virginia Beach Police Department
Increasing Enforcement of Curfew Laws

To keep Virginia Beach’s young adults safe and out of trouble, the Virginia Beach Police Department is increasing its enforcement of the city’s curfew law.

Since so many new people move to our area each year, the Police Department wants to share with parents and juveniles the Virginia Beach curfew law and its key points. City Code 23-2 simply stated mandates that any person under the age 18 must be off of the streets of Virginia Beach from 11 PM to 5 AM.

The city’s curfew law 23-2, states that it is unlawful for a juvenile under the age of 18 to be present on any street, road, alley, avenue, park or other public place in the city, or in any vehicle operating or parked thereon from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. It is also illegal for a parent to allow a juvenile to violate the curfew ordinance.

There are five exceptions to the curfew law.

1. The code does not apply to emancipated juveniles.
2. The juvenile may participate in an emergency errand to protect life, limb, or property.
3. The juvenile is permitted to go from his residence directly to work and from his work directly to his residence.
4. The minor is also permitted to attend specific engagements provided he or she had a signed note from his parent or guardian on his or her person that includes the address and phone number where the parent can be contacted at. The juvenile must return directly back to his residence after the event is over.
5. Lastly, a juvenile is permitted interstate travel to, from, or through Virginia Beach.

All juveniles should keep a phone number with them where their parent or guardian can be contacted. If you are a juvenile, and a police officer approached you, do not run. Identify yourself to the police officer. If a police officer stops a juvenile, the officer may issue a summons and the officer will return the juvenile home. The summons requires the juvenile and his or her parent or guardian to appear in Juvenile Domestic Relations Court.

The Police Department appreciates the cooperation from parents and juveniles alike to abide by the curfew law. The goal of the Police Department is to gain voluntary compliance of the curfew law.