Teen Curfew Law
Civic Action Project
Andrea M. and Natalie S.
Illinois’ Current Curfew:
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Sunday-Thursdays the curfew is 10 p.m. - 6
a.m.
On Fridays and Saturdays the curfew is 11
p.m. - 6 a.m.
If you are driving past curfew then your
license is considered invalid.
If you are ticketed for a curfew violation your
license or permit may be suspended.
Other State’s Curfews:
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New York: does not have a curfew.
Michigan: Midnight- 5am.
Iowa: If your 16 or 17, you can not drive after
12:30
Ohio: The curfew is from 1-6 a.m.
Problems with Illinois’ Current
Curfew:
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Causes accidents due to student speeding to get
home
Some work hours require students to be out past
their curfew.
If there is a need to make a late night errand for
a loved one that is not able to, we’re not able to
legally do that.
Changes We Would like to
make to the Current Curfew:
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We think that the curfew should be pushed
back an hour on both weekdays and
weekends.
We would like to modify the existing policy,
and have the law changed by summer 2010.
We feel like changing the curfew will limit the
number of accidents caused by speeding.
City Curfew Changes:
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Through research we found that the curfew in
the state of Illinois is 12am. Due to this
research we realized to keep this a city issue
the latest we could extend our curfew to is
12am. If we extended it past this time, we
would be addressing a state not city issue.
Evidence of Later Curfew
Having Positive Results:
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Michigan: Overall crash risk for 16 year-olds
was reduced by 25% in 1999 compared to
1996. Risk of a night-time crash was 53%
lower in 1999 vs. 1996 while risk of a crash
during daytime hours was 24% lower (net
29% reduction in risk attributed to nighttime
restrictions)
Constitutional Proof:
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One possible perspective on curfew laws is their effects
on the rights of young people and their families.
Teenagers and young children are recognized as
citizens by the Fourteenth Amendment, which states
that:
-“All persons born or naturalized in the United
States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are
citizens of the United States and of the State wherein
they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of
citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive
any person of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor deny to any person within its
Outcome of an unmodified
curfew:
If this curfew is not modified we predict that
there will be:
- More accidents as a result of speeding
-Teens will continue to be dishonest and find
new, alternative, unsafe, ways to rebel
against there parents.
-Insurance rates will continue to go up due to
the number of accidents increasing.
Who to Contact:
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Wheaton City Hall, 630-260-2000
Address: 303 W. Wesley St.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 727, Wheaton,
IL 60187
Hours of Operation: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday- Friday
How to become an effective
citizen:
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Two skills of effective citizens: How to follow
the laws, research government policies.
Two attitudes of effective citizens: Want a
better America, Have personal beliefs.
Two areas of knowledge of an effective
citizen: Current events, foreign affairs.
Two actions of effective citizens: protesting,
discuss issues.
How we became effective
citizens:
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Through the civic action project we were able
to exchange our ideas with others on a
specific issue. Through collaborative
research we were able to put all of our ideas
and others ideas in use to make a difference
or at least put the word out there about our
issue with the teen curfew.