Curfew in place for minors as police launch ‘Safe Summer Operation’ in Fresno
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- Fresno Police launched the “Safe Summer Operation” to deter violent crime and keep.
- The city teen curfew restricts minors from being out between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Officers will use discretion, usually returning teens home or calling parents.
Expect to see more officers out on patrol starting Thursday night and for the next few weeks as Fresno police launch the “Safe Summer Operation,” an initiative aimed at deterring violent crime and keeping young people safe.
Part of the operation includes enforcement of the city’s teen curfew ordinance, which restricts minors from being out between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
“They all worked hard throughout the school year, and they deserve an opportunity to recharge and refresh over the summer,” Fresno Police Deputy Chief Robert Beckwith said.
“We want to keep them safe while they are doing that. We don’t want to see them put in positions where they become victims of crime or make poor decisions that impact them later in life.”
Beckwith said the operation will continue “for a number of weeks” before police reassess its effectiveness and determine next steps.
No single crime trend prompted the initiative, Beckwith said.
Beckwith acknowledged concerns about incidents occurring in other parts of the country, including “teen takeovers,” but said the operation is intended as a proactive measure. He said in early May the department got ahead of a “takeover” that was rumored to take place at Fashion Fair Mall.
If officers encounter a teen out past curfew, Beckwith said enforcement will largely be left to officer discretion. In most cases, officers will take the teen home or contact their parents. Parents could face consequences if curfew violations become a recurring issue.
Beckwith said the curfew ordinance has been in place under Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 9-2508 for a while, but police hadn’t used a proactive approach for several years.
Under the Municipal Code, no person under the age of 18 shall loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places and public buildings, places of amusement and eating places, vacant lots or any unsupervised place between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 p.m. of the following day.
This does not apply when the minor is accompanied by their parent or guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor, or when the minor is upon an emergency errand directed by his or her parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor, or when the minor is returning directly home from a meeting, entertainment, recreational activity or dance.
Police also plan to use common sense when enforcing the ordinance.
“If a teen is leaving a movie after 10 p.m., we’re going to use common sense when it comes to curfew enforcement,” Beckwith said.
“It’s not a blanket approach.”
Police are encouraging parents and guardians to discuss the curfew with their children and stress the importance of making safe choices during the summer.
“This is not going to be a sweep by any means,” Beckwith said. “It’s about making them aware and getting them to a safe place. This is not a crime sweep. It’s all about their safety.”
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 1:05 PM.
