Texas Will No Longer Allow Curfews For Juveniles

Last year we told you that the Lubbock Police were going to be enforcing the curfew ordinance. This year things are looking way different.

Summer is here for some, and almost here for others. This year The City of Lubbock will not implement a curfew for kids 18 years and younger due to House Bill 1819.

According to city ordinances, the City of Lubbock has had a juvenile curfew since 1983, and it has been heavily enforced. If someone under the age of 18 was caught out past curfew was a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a $200 fine.

Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision may not adopt or enforce an order, ordinance, or other measure that imposes a curfew to regulate the movements or actions of persons younger than 18 years of age.

This is a synopsis of the ordinance § Chapter 18 Article II Section 18-46.

According to the State of Texas, House Bill 1819 repealed the authority of “political subdivisions to adopt or enforce juvenile curfews.”

The bill said that even though the state is prohibited from implementing curfews, it does not stop courts from taking minors into custody.

The Senate passed the bill unanimously (31-0) on May 17th, 2023. This law took effect back on September 1st, 2023.