Youth curfew could return in Fayetteville, city leaders give preliminary approval

FAYETTEVILLE, NC. . (WTVD) -- Fayetteville's youth curfew, which expired in May, could soon make a comeback after the City Council gave preliminary approval to reinstate the ordinance.

The curfew, first enacted following a shooting near the Dogwood Festival last year, barred anyone 16 or younger from being out between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

The one-year pilot, known as the Youth Protection Safety Ordinance, ended on May 27.

While some residents were surprised a curfew was ever needed, many parents and city officials argue it helps keep young people safe.

"They should bring it back, because for our, like, for kids like my age, under and above, to be more protected and don't get hurt," said 12-year-old Caordell Caver, who attends TMK Outreach Youth Explorer Center in Fayetteville.

Mayor Mitch Colvin and three council members say the curfew is a valuable tool for reducing youth crime.

According to Fayetteville police, breaking-and-entering cases involving teens dropped by nearly 50% over the past year.

However, the police department's juvenile crime report was mixed: while vandalism decreased by 46%, drug-related incidents doubled, and assaults, as well as weapons charges, increased.

Ruby Gary, founder of TMK Outreach Youth Explorer Center, said she was shocked to learn the city needed a curfew. "I said to myself, 'Oh my God, it's getting that bad,'" Gary said. After 15 years in Fayetteville, she believes the curfew could be beneficial. "It will help keep them out of trouble and not get into anything that they're not supposed to be getting into. But it's sad in my heart that they even have to have a curfew in the first place."

While some teens, like 17-year-old Malia Gary, also support the curfew as a way to avoid peer pressure, not everyone is on board. "There are some good teens out there speaking for myself. But you have other teens that influence the good teens. So they feel like they have to prove something in order to fit in," said Malia Gary.

Opposition remains among some council members. Councilman Shaun McMillan criticized the measure, saying, "If we continue to waste our time on bad policy, that uses the language even of criminalization instead of in a positive, forward-leaning way of pouring into the future of our city, it's going to be to the continued detriment of our residents."

The proposal to make the curfew permanent requires two more council votes, with the final vote scheduled for June 22.

If approved, Fayetteville would again enforce a nightly curfew for youth 16 and younger in an effort to balance public safety and community concerns.

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