DC Mayor Bowser Signs Tougher Youth Curfew After Mass Fireworks Arrests

Following a weekend marked by numerous juvenile arrests for illegal fireworks in Washington D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a tougher youth curfew into law to address public safety concerns. The new curfew requires youths aged 17 and under to be off the streets by 11 p.m. city-wide, with an earlier curfew of 8 p.m. in designated enforcement zones modeled after drug-free zones. Over the Fourth of July weekend, police arrested 27 individuals, mostly teenagers, primarily in Navy Yard and U Street Corridor, recovering around 400 illegal fireworks including roman candles and firecrackers. Mayor Bowser emphasized that the curfew is a temporary measure and highlighted the importance of parental accountability and community support in keeping youths safe. Residents expressed relief and hope that the new regulations will restore peace in neighborhoods affected by late-night disturbances and dangerous fireworks activity. The law also grants the mayor and police chief authority to establish emergency curfews and extended juvenile curfew zones to better respond to hotspots of disorderly conduct.