A Practical Guide to D.C. Law for Teens and Young Adults

Work and Money

• Jobs
• Teens and $$$

• If you are 10–14 years old: You are eligible for a newspaper route. Call any local newspaper to find out how you can get a paper route. You’ll need your own bike. Until you turn 14, however, you cannot take a job.
• If you are 14 or over: You can get a job! But, you can only work between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 p.m. During the summer (when school is out), you can work until 9:00 p.m.
• If you are 16 or 17: Once you are 16 years old, you can work from 6 in the morning until 10 at night. But you can NEVER work during school hours.
• If you are 18 years old: You can work at any time, so long as you are not working during school hours.
• And for anyone under 18 years old: You can never work more than 6 days in a row. Also, you can never work more than 8 hours in a day, or more than 48 hours in a week.

Employment Discrimination
The D.C. Human Rights Act makes it illegal for an employer, employment agency or labor organization to discriminate based upon “the race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, martial status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, disability, matriculation, or political affiliation of any individual.” For more details see, D.C. CODE ANN. § 2-1402.11 (2001).

Buying expensive items that require monthly payments or getting a typical credit card requires that you sign a “contract.” Before you turn 18 you cannot enter contracts without your parents “co-signing” for you (this means your parents are also responsible under the contract). Most sellers won’t enter contracts with minors because by law, you can get out of such contracts or agreements before you turn 18. The creditor (a person lending money, services or goods to you that has a right to be paid for them) could risk losing a lot of money. This is why your parents have to co-sign any agreements (making them liable for the payments if you fail to pay or say you’ve “changed your mind” about the purchase).

You can, however, enter certain limited contracts before you turn 18, namely for “necessities” (usually food, clothing, shelter, etc.). In D.C. minors over the age of 15 can also enter contracts for life insurance. See D.C. Code Ann. § 31-4330 (2001), on the contractual rights of minors.

So, where does this leave you? How can you purchase items with your own money (especially these days when you buy things online and need plastic) without your parents’ help?

Credit Cards for Teens
Various financial institutions offer “credit cards” for teens. They look like regular credit cards, but they won’t allow you to go into debt. Instead, you or your parents can put a certain amount of money onto the card (from your or a
parent’s bank account or your parent’s credit card), like a telephone calling card. The amount can be replenished in the same way. These cards can be used to pay for stuff online, and to withdraw money at ATMs.8

Teen credit cards include the M2Card, Visa Buxx, and Cobaltcard. You can get these cards (with parental permission) as young as age 13 and up to the age of 22 (for students in college). Cobaltcard (American Express owned) allows teens 16 and over to get a card without parental consent.9 A lot of people feel that these cards are bad for teens because they get kids hooked on credit and tempt kids into debt at a young age. Others feel these cards are a good way to teach teens how to act responsibly with their money.

Parents can check how you are spending your money with online websites that track your usage of your card and purchases.10 Some cards will not allow you to purchase pornography, alcohol or tobacco products online. Others will highlight “questionable” purchases for your parents to see.

Beware!
Unfortunately, because your money is already “on” the card, if you lose the card, you could lose all that money. However, if you call fast enough to report it stolen, the card issuer can suspend the account so whoever stole or found your card can’t use it (and you may get your money back). Check with the issuer on their policies before taking out a teen credit card.

For tips on handling credit cards and learning about debt, read How to Teach Your Children About Credit Cards—Before It’s Too Late by Libby Wells, Bankrate.com, available at www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20000508a.asp.

8. See e.g., Holden Lewis, Plastic for Teens: Cardmakers Lure the Next Generation, at www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20001211a.asp
9. Id.
10. Id.