Do Teens Under 18 Have a Curfew in the State of Indiana?

Getting My License at 16: A Taste of Freedom

Back when I turned 16, I could taste the freedom. In Kentucky, at that time, you applied for your permit when you turned 16, and at 16 and a half, you could take your driving test. Six months to the day after I turned 16, my dad took me to the DMV and I aced my driving test.

My Driving Test with “The Dragon Lady”

It helped that my driving test proctor, who was nicknamed The Dragon Lady, had a terrible migraine. She laid her seat back, covered her eyes, and said, “If you don't kill us both, I'll pass you.” My parallel park was behind one car, not in between two, and I didn’t hit any cars, so they gave me a driver's license, and my life changed forever.

That weekend, I took my little Mustang out and my friends and I cruised Frederica Street in Owensboro. Life was sweet. The following year, for some unknown reason, my parents let me drive my sister’s car down to Florida with friends for Spring Break!

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How My Parents Gave Me Freedom as a Teen

It just made me realize that I had a lot of freedom when I was in high school. My parents didn’t want to pick me up from my friends’ houses after 10 PM, so they welcomed my freedom because it meant freedom for them too. They bought me the car. They even paid the insurance! The only rule was that if I was going to be late, I had to let them know. They bought me a candy bar cell phone with a few prepaid minutes just for this reason.

And long before I turned 16 and a half, I’d beg my parents to pick me up well after midnight from friends’ houses or places like the movies that stayed open late. I had a great group of friends, and we never caused trouble, so sometimes they’d let me stay out and drag themselves out of bed to come pick us up. But again, I had a pretty tame group of friends.

I mean, who doesn't remember the iconic Smashing Pumpkins "1979" video? A short glimpse into the after-dark teen experience.

Before Phones and Life360: The '90s Way of Checking In

Nowadays, though, I wouldn’t dare let my daughter do things like drive to Panama City Beach, FL, with her friends when she turns 17. I know what happens on Spring Break! Ha!

It kind of reminds me of that old commercial: “It’s 10 PM, do you know where your children are?” What? Parents really didn’t know where their kids were? OMG I can't fathom this. Well, back then, we didn’t have phones with Life360 for parents to spy on our whereabouts. We just ran around and ended up where we ended up. We’d find a phone and call the landline for a ride.

Learning About Indiana’s Curfew Law in 2025

But fast-forward to 2025, and I guess the real-life kids from that Smashing Pumpkins video ruined it for the next generation, because I was surprised to learn this week that here in Indiana, we have a curfew law. I saw a post on Facebook from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department about it.

Indiana law prohibits children under 15 to be in public after 11 p.m. IMPD officers will be out and visible tonight to help keep our young people safe. Please help us by making sure your child is home before curfew. 

The PD is referring to Indiana Law § 131: Curfew.

This curfew law sets specific rules for when kids and teens are allowed to be out in public. If a child is younger than 15, they can’t be out between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on any day. For teens who are 15, 16, or 17, the curfew is from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on weeknights (Sunday through Thursday).

There are some exceptions. A minor isn’t breaking the rules if they’re legally emancipated, married, or recognized as independent by law in another state. Also, it’s okay to be out during curfew hours if they’re with a parent or guardian (or someone approved by them), heading to or from a job, school event, religious service, or a supervised nonprofit or government activity. Emergencies, First Amendment activities like peaceful protests, and traveling across state lines are also valid reasons to be out during curfew.

Police aren’t allowed to stop a child just for being out past curfew unless they reasonably believe the child is actually violating the law and none of the exceptions apply. If it’s a first offense, the case goes to Town Court and parents are notified. If it happens again, it’s handled at the County Circuit Court level.

Parents and guardians also have a role in this. It’s against the law for them to knowingly let their child break curfew. If it happens more than once, the law assumes the parent is responsible unless proven otherwise. As for consequences, each violation can come with a fine of up to $50, and the court can also take further action to prevent repeat offenses.

Things Are Different Today

So, in all fairness, I get it. Kids don't need to be hanging out at the convenience store at 11 PM. They don't need to be causing chaos in parking lots, throwing furniture in pools, and TPing all the houses. And officials in Marion County, IN, are even championing for stricter curfew times after teens were involved in a mass shooting earlier this year.

But I also remember what it was like to be that age and how you just want to hang with your friends. There's a huge lack of safe, teen-friendly entertainment in the Southern Indiana area.

Read More: HERE’S WHY AN INDIANA MAN INVITED NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS TO TP HIS YARD 

So, there's no good answer except to get your kids enrolled in youth groups, teen centers, and clubs so they'll be covered by the non-profit exception.

My husband always told his older daughter, nothing good happens after midnight. I know... from first-hand experience.

It's 10 PM, do you know where your teen is?