The curfew started Friday at the Oceanfront at 7 p.m. It was announced by a passing police car near 18th Street and Atlantic Avenue and, a moment later, a loudspeaker above the street. A smattering of pedestrians heard.
Cool weather meant the evening was a quiet start in the city's new plan to handle an ongoing challenge in the main resort area – large gatherings that can arise without warning.
The city enacted the temporary “imminent threat” curfew to curb violence and help police control gatherings that bring young adults and teens together. The curfew is specific to parts of the Oceanfront, the heart of the tourism industry and where some gatherings have led to violence.
Through the end of April, unaccompanied minors can’t be out past 7 p.m. on weekend nights in a specific section of the Oceanfront. It’s different from the city’s decision to move up the start of the citywide curfew by an hour to 10 p.m., which starts March 19.
“You know, the weather is our biggest friend,” Police Chief Paul Neudigate said Saturday evening. “And as we get into the warmer weekends, then yes, we will probably be a little more stringent in our application. But right now, we just want to be firm, fair and educational.”
Police wanted the curfew after unruly crowds gathered March 7, a night that saw a shooting that left six young adults wounded. Crowds along Atlantic Avenue included minors.
That night, police took 37 minors into custody on curfew violations, though most were turned over to parents with a warning. Police have since said guns were recovered from five juveniles.
Some families and young people walked along Atlantic Avenue on Friday, a cold night. More were out Saturday when 7 p.m. arrived, including young people going to birthday gatherings or in town for a cheer competition. Many were with adults.
But it was hardly a crowd. Police said Monday there were no major incidents or arrests related to the curfew.
Saturday, Neudigate told reporters police were focusing on easing into the process by letting people know about the new curfew, including passing out flyers about it. Patrol vehicles and officers on bikes rode up and down the avenue, but that’s not unusual this time of year.
Members of the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission met with police at the Dairy Queen parking lot near Atlantic Avenue and 17th Street, a popular gathering spot.
Commissioner Mark Stevens said part of their role is to make sure everyone is treated fairly, including young people and police, so they came out to see how it was announced and received. The issue is not with the curfew itself.
“Our concern is that we don’t have any more incidents like we had,” Stevens said, speaking of the previous weekend.
Commissioner Beatriz Amberman said they may return on a warmer night.
On Thursday, Councilmember Worth Remick, whose district includes part of the resort area, said he’d spoken with business owners who support the curfew.
“We’ve got to get control of the Oceanfront, and I think this is a great tool to do that,” Remick said.
Z. Sale, who manages a custom shirt shop along Atlantic Avenue, said he hopes the temporary curfew will help families feel safe.
“I don't mind the curfew, as long as we're going to be having, you know, the families, good people, customers,” Sale said Saturday. “Last weekend, it was ridiculous.”
Time and warmer weather will tell if the curfew helps.
“Give it two, three weeks and then you can make a decision on that,” Sale said.
