D.C. Council postpones vote on juvenile curfew, allowing measure to expire

The D.C. Council has postponed its vote on extending the emergency juvenile curfew until late April, which effectively ends the curfew that has been credited with helping prevent teenagers from running amok in popular nightlife spots.

The council backed Chairman Phil Mendelson’s proposal on Tuesday to delay a vote on the emergency measure until April 21.

The temporary law allows the Metropolitan Police to establish “curfew zones” and to bar youths from gathering in certain parts of town.

Council member Brooke Pinto, the public safety committee chair who advocated to keep the curfew intact, objected to Mr. Mendelson’s call to postpone the vote because it would allow the curfew to sunset on April 15.

“There would be a gap in the law that would fall over spring break if we do not act today, a risk I do not think is wise to take,” Ms. Pinto said. “And the next legislative meeting is set to be on April 21, which would be after that time period. I think it’s important that we vote on this measure today.”

The council instead favored Mr. Mendelson’s amendment to postpone the vote by a 9-3 margin.

Local lawmakers approved a delay on the curfew’s future despite a 200-teen “takeover” of the Navy Yard a few weeks ago, which made national headlines.

Police said the chaotic March 14 incident resulted in robberies, assaults and a fired gun. It comes months after a similar teen takeover during Halloween weekend caused a massive melee in the Navy Yard that saw National Guard troops try to separate brawling juveniles.

The delayed vote also cuts against the wishes of Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, who urged the council to make the curfew a fixture of the District’s public safety apparatus.

“I think the council should stop playing games with this. This is a tool that we need,” Ms. Bowser said Monday. “We’re going to keep coming back every 90 days, and you’re going to keep asking me the same question. We need it. We’re going to come back 90 days from now, stop playing games and move to permanent.”

Metropolitan Police set up juvenile curfew zones in Chinatown, the Wharf, the U Street Corridor and Navy Yard following the March 14 incident.

Large gatherings of youths are not allowed in the zones after 8 p.m., police said.

Juveniles caught inside the curfew zones or who are out late at night are usually ordered to go home, police said.

Those who refuse are taken to the Department of Youth and Rehabilitative Services, the city’s juvenile jail, where they are held until a parent or guardian can come pick them up.