Vote on Chicago Snap Curfew Ordinance Deferred

 Posted on May 29, 2025 in Criminal Law

Last week, the Chicago City Council delayed a vote on the implementation of a "snap curfew" for young people until June 18. The city has recently seen an increase in what is known as "teen takeovers," and the snap curfews are in response to these incidents. With summer almost here and schools letting out, law enforcement is expecting more teen takeovers, which occur when teens use social media to create large gatherings, usually in downtown areas.

While a gathering is not, in and of itself, illegal, unfortunately, criminal offenses tend to occur when large numbers of teenagers gather. Fireworks are often shot off during a teen takeover, along with reckless driving, criminal damage to property, and mob actions. Traffic may be blocked during teen takeovers, and recently, during one of these teen takeovers, a police officer was assaulted.

Snap curfews allow the City Council, the Chicago Police Superintendent, and the Deputy Mayor to call for a curfew of groups of 20 or more, with a 30-minute warning. While opponents of snap curfews believe the measure is unconstitutional, the bill is expected to pass in June. If your child has been cited for curfew violations or for more serious juvenile criminal offenses, it can be beneficial to speak to a knowledgeable Plainfield, IL juvenile law attorney.

What Are the Current Curfews for Minors in Illinois?

The state of Illinois has a curfew statute, plus local municipal citations may also govern curfew regulations. The stated goal of the state curfew is to protect children under the basic assumption that when a child is at home late at night and during the early morning hours, he or she is protected from "physical and moral danger." Under Illinois statute, a minor commits a curfew violation when he or she is in a public place during curfew hours.

Minors are considered those who are under the age of 17 years. The current curfew for Illinois minors is Saturdays and Sundays from 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. and Monday through Thursday from 11 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Violating curfew is considered a petty offense, carrying a potential fine of $10 to $500, with no jail time. While the offense of violating curfew is not particularly serious, other crimes that are serious often occur when teens gather together.

What Are the Primary Criminal Offenses Teens Are Charged With?

It is estimated that approximately 14 percent of all criminal offenses involve teenagers. The most common crimes teens are charged with include:

• Drug and alcohol offenses
•  Underage drinking
• Vandalism
• Violations of curfew
•  Loitering
• Disorderly conduct
• Motor vehicle theft
• Shoplifting
• Robbery
• Assault and battery
• Sexual assault
• Illegal possession of firearms

According to one study, about 80 percent of minors are under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they commit a criminal offense. More serious offenses can result in the minor being charged as an adult. Since criminal convictions can seriously affect a child’s future, it is extremely important that the child has an experienced, aggressive juvenile crimes attorney to prepare a strong defense. A criminal conviction can potentially prevent a teenager from getting into college and obtaining employment.

Contact a Will County, IL Juvenile Crimes Lawyer

If your child is in trouble with the law, even if the offense seems relatively minor, speaking to a knowledgeable Joliet, IL juvenile crimes attorney from Reeder & Brown, P.C. is the best step you can take to safeguard your child’s future. One mistake on the part of your child should not derail his or her life plans.

Our attorneys will aggressively defend your child, working hard to have a felony offense lowered to a misdemeanor offense or to have the charges dropped altogether. Our firm is committed to honesty, integrity, and exceptional customer service. We have successfully handled thousands of criminal cases over the years. To schedule your free consultation, call 815-885-5980.