With students returning to school, the Metropolitan Police Department reminds young people and their families that the District of Columbia's teen curfew begins an hour earlier on weeknights.

Starting Thursday, September 1 and continuing through next June, curfew for young people under the age of 17 begins at 11 pm on Sunday through Thursday nights, and continues until 6 am the following day. On weekend nights, curfew begins at 12:01 am, and ends at 6 the next morning. During the months of July and August only, curfew hours are from 12:01 am to 6 am, seven nights a week.

Under the Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995, persons under the age of 17 cannot remain in or on a street, park or other outdoor public place, in a vehicle or on the premises of any establishment within the District of Columbia during curfew hours, unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian or are involved in certain exempted activities. Exempted activities include work, school, religious, civic or organized recreational activities, as well as the exercise of First Amendment rights. The law applies to all young people who are in the District during curfew hours, regardless of whether they reside inside or outside the city.

As part of its juvenile crime prevention strategy, the MPD has stepped up enforcement of the curfew law. As of August 20, MPD officers had cited 2,123 curfew violators during 2005. This year's figure is already 74 percent higher than the 1,219 curfews issued in all of 2004.

Young people who repeatedly violate the curfew are subject to penalties that include up to 25 hours of community service. A parent or legal guardian who knowingly permits a minor to violate the law faces up to a $500 fine, community service or both.

Additional information about the District's curfew law, including resources for young people, is available on the MPDC website at www.mpdc.dc.gov/curfew.