7 p.m. Emergency Curfew for Unaccompanied Minors Implemented for Oceanfront

The Virginia Beach City Council approved an imminent threat curfew for unaccompanied minors at the Oceanfront starting on Friday, March 13.  

The curfew will be enforced from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. every weekend, Friday to Sunday, until the end of April. The geographical area of such curfew shall be bounded to the south by Rudee Park, the west by the western boundary of Pacific Avenue, the north by the northern boundary of 31st Street, and the east by the Atlantic Ocean.

The new curfew comes after six people were shot on Atlantic Avenue on March 7. The overall goal is to promote a safe and welcoming environment for residents and visitors.

Unaccompanied minors out after 7 p.m. could be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor, the most serious misdemeanor level under Virginia law.

For all other areas outside of the Oceanfront's imminent threat zone, a 10 p.m. curfew will be in effect starting March 19.

A minor may be: 

• Charged with a Class 4 misdemeanor for the citywide curfew.
• Taken to a designated pickup location. 

• Taken to a nonsecure, state‑certified crisis center or juvenile shelter if deemed in the minor’s best interest. 

• Taken to the juvenile intake division for further processing under Virginia law.

There are exceptions to both curfews: 

• Any emergency errand reasonably necessary to safeguard life, limb or property. 

• Lawful employment, including going directly from the minor's residence to the place of such employment or returning directly from the place of such employment to the minor's residence. 

• Attendance at a specified engagement or performance, attendance at religious services or participation in any assembly or expressive activity protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution; provided that the minor shall have in his possession written permission including the signature, address and telephone number, of a parent, guardian or other adult person having care, custody or control of such minor to attend such activity or event, and shall return directly to his residence upon conclusion.

• Interstate travel through, beginning or terminating in the City of Virginia Beach.

If an unaccompanied minor is out after 7 p.m., several City facilities across Virginia Beach have been identified as pickup points for parents and guardians. 

For full ordinance details and additional information, please visit: VirginiaBeach.gov/CurfewChange