Charlotte's new youth curfew takes effect Sunday, Nov. 1. Under the pilot program, anyone under 18 is expected to be off public streets between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., every day of the week, weekends included. The pilot runs through Aug. 31, 2027, as WBTV reported this week.

How we got here

Charlotte City Council approved the pilot on a 9-2 vote on Monday, Sept. 28, according to WFAE and the Charlotte Mercury. Council members Reneé Johnson and LaWana Mayfield spoke against the change before the vote. The main target is so-called "teen takeovers," large, unruly youth gatherings in public places.

What changes

The city's earlier rules varied by age: a 10 p.m. curfew for kids 12 and under, 11 p.m. for ages 13 to 15, and no curfew at all for 16- and 17-year-olds, per the Mercury. The pilot replaces that with a single 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. window for everyone under 18.

Exceptions

Teens can still be out during curfew hours when they are:

  • With a parent or another authorized adult
  • Running an errand for a parent
  • Heading to or from a job
  • Dealing with an emergency
  • Taking part in a supervised school, religious or recreational activity
  • Engaged in First Amendment-protected activity

How CMPD says it will enforce it

Chief Estella Patterson has described a step-by-step approach, starting with warnings and education, with juvenile diversion programs as the next step. She also told council that officers will not pull over a car just because they suspect a curfew violation, though a stop for a separate driving offense is still allowed; the Mercury noted that commitment had not yet been written into policy when council voted. Patterson is expected to report back to council every quarter, and Johnson C. Smith University will help analyze the data, according to the Mercury. The Charlotte Observer also covered the vote.

Where it applies

This is a City of Charlotte ordinance, so it covers neighborhoods inside city limits, including Ballantyne, SouthPark and Steele Creek. Families in separate towns such as Matthews and Pineville, or in the Union County towns, should check their own town's rules. For more local news, browse our South Charlotte neighborhood guides.

Sources: WBTV, Charlotte Mercury, WFAE, Charlotte Observer