There is no single curfew in Colorado for minors that applies statewide. The only state-level rule is a driving curfew for teen drivers under 18 during their first year of licensure. Everything else — whether a minor can be out walking, hanging out at a park, or riding in a friend’s car at night — is set by the city or county you happen to be in. Some Colorado municipalities have juvenile curfew ordinances; others, including Colorado Springs, do not.
The Statewide Teen Driving Curfew
Colorado’s graduated driver licensing law bars drivers under 18 who have held their license for less than one year from driving between midnight and 5:00 a.m.1Justia Law. Colorado Code 42-2-105.5 – Restrictions on Minor Drivers Under Eighteen Years of Age The restriction lifts once the teen has held the license for a full year or turns 18, whichever comes first.2Colorado Department of Transportation. Colorado Graduated Driver Licensing Laws Resource Guide
The law allows several exceptions. A teen can drive during the restricted hours if a parent, legal guardian, or any licensed driver over 21 with at least one year of experience is in the vehicle. Driving to or from work, school, a school-related activity, or for a medical emergency is also permitted.3Colorado General Assembly. Passenger and Curfew Laws for Minor Drivers
Penalties for Breaking the Driving Curfew
A violation is a traffic infraction, not a criminal offense, and the penalties step up with each offense:
- First offense: a fine of up to $50, two license suspension points, and 8 to 24 hours of community service.
- Second offense: a fine of up to $100, two license suspension points, and 16 to 40 hours of community service.
- Third or later offense: a fine of up to $150, two license suspension points, and 16 to 40 hours of community service.
Those license points matter. Colorado tracks points on a teen’s record, and enough of them can trigger a suspension on top of the fine and community service hours.3Colorado General Assembly. Passenger and Curfew Laws for Minor Drivers
Local Curfews for Being Out in Public
Outside of driving, no state law tells minors when they have to be off the street. Cities, towns, and counties set those rules themselves under Colorado’s home-rule authority.4City of Castle Pines. Ordinance No. 12-11 Amending Curfew for Minors Denver, Aurora, Boulder, Centennial, Lakewood, and Littleton all have juvenile curfew ordinances. Colorado Springs does not; only the state driving rule applies there.5Denvergov.org. SafeNite Curfew Program Frequently Asked Questions
Denver’s Rules as an Example
Denver’s ordinance covers anyone between ages 10 and 17. The restricted hours are:
- Sunday through Thursday: 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Friday and Saturday: midnight to 5:00 a.m.
A minor is not in violation if they are with a parent or legal guardian, with an adult 18 or older who carries written parental permission, traveling in a vehicle used for interstate travel, or working or attending an adult-supervised official activity.5Denvergov.org. SafeNite Curfew Program Frequently Asked Questions
How Rules Vary From City to City
Denver’s ordinance is typical, but the details shift elsewhere. Some cities begin weeknight curfew at 10:00 p.m. instead of 11:00 p.m. Some define the covered age range differently or write their exceptions a little differently. Douglas County municipalities have coordinated to use uniform rules across the county.4City of Castle Pines. Ordinance No. 12-11 Amending Curfew for Minors If your teen will be out in a city other than the one you live in, the rules at the destination may be different from the ones at home.
Exceptions You Can Expect to See
Most Colorado curfew ordinances share a core set of exceptions, even when the exact wording differs. A minor is generally not in violation when they are with a parent or guardian, traveling to or from work, attending a school-sponsored or religious event, responding to an emergency, or exercising First Amendment rights such as attending a protest or religious service. Emancipated minors are usually exempt as well, because their legal status is treated as equivalent to an adult for most purposes.
What Happens When a Minor Is Caught
Under Colorado Department of Public Safety guidelines, a curfew violation is a status offense, meaning the conduct is only illegal because of the person’s age. That classification carries one important consequence: law enforcement cannot place a curfew-violating minor in a locked holding cell or secure detention, even briefly. Officers can hold the minor in a non-secure setting while contacting a parent or guardian for pickup.6Colorado Department of Public Safety. Sample Law Enforcement Juvenile Custody Policy and Procedure
In Denver, the SafeNite program handles this by transporting curfew-violating youth to a juvenile services center, where parents are called to pick them up. Many jurisdictions offer diversion programs as an alternative to formal court proceedings, and diversion costs are often lower than the fines a court would impose.5Denvergov.org. SafeNite Curfew Program Frequently Asked Questions Formal penalties for a local violation differ by city but typically include some mix of warnings, fines, and mandatory community service. First-time offenders are the most likely to be routed into diversion rather than court.
Can Parents Be Charged?
Yes, in principle. Under C.R.S. 18-6-701, anyone who induces, aids, or encourages a child to violate a federal, state, or local law commits contributing to the delinquency of a minor. A local curfew ordinance qualifies as a local law, so a parent who actively permits or encourages a child to be out past curfew could be charged, usually at the misdemeanor level depending on the underlying violation. In practice, a one-off situation rarely results in charges against a parent. A repeated pattern of disregard draws more scrutiny.
How to Find the Rule Where You Live
Because curfew rules are set locally, the only reliable way to know what applies is to check your own municipality’s code. Start on the official website of your city or county and search for “curfew” within the municipal code or ordinance section. The Colorado Supreme Court Library maintains a directory of electronic municipal codes that can point you to the right database.7Colorado Supreme Court Library. Colorado Research Resources
If you can’t find it online, call the non-emergency line for your local police department or sheriff’s office. Curfew enforcement is routine for them, and they can confirm the hours, the age range covered, and the exceptions that apply in your jurisdiction. Worth doing before your teen heads to an event in another town, since the rule next door may not match the one at home.