CHARLOTTE — On Sunday, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will have a new tool to keep kids off the streets.
The language is pretty simple: if you are 18 and under, be home by 10 p.m.
Dawn Rembert is a parent who brought her 11-year-old daughter to the Little Listeners of the Carolina’s Annual Safe Trick-or-Treat Zone on Saturday.
“We’re just aware of keeping them safe,” she said. “Which is why we came here tonight, ‘cause this is a safe event in the community. I think it can be good.”
Police hope to steer kids to sanctioned events like the one held Saturday night, instead of the chaos of teen takeovers that have occurred Uptown.
“We were very intimidated by how hostile that was,” said parent Precious Morrow, who was in the middle of a takeover.
The new curfew starts Sunday night and applies to anyone under 18. The hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
There are some exceptions: kids who are with a parent or guardian, traveling to or from employment and attending school events or religious services.
“CMPD will begin with warnings and education, so educating our youth, making sure they understand what’s going on,” said Danté Anderson, a council member.
Anderson is on the city council’s public safety committee. She says keeping kids safe is the goal.
“Based on the activities that occurred last weekend in our city where we had 16-year-olds and 19-year-olds, young people shooting and being killed and ultimately their lives are impacted forever,” said Anderson.
Police say they will try and educate first. But if the same kids continue to violate the curfew, they are counting on the district attorney to prosecute.