Oceanfront curfew remains amid safety debate

Virginia Beach's Oceanfront curfew remains in effect at 9:30 p.m. this Friday, despite objections from local businesses and one council member. The city council voted 6-4 to maintain the restriction amid ongoing safety concerns. (wtkr.com) The curfew, enacted after a chaotic Memorial Day weekend in 2023 involving fights and a fatal shooting, requires beachgoers to leave the boardwalk by the cutoff time. It applies to the stretch from 1st Street to 41st Street, with enforcement by police and sanitation crews. (wtkr.com) City Manager Pat Rowe announced the curfew's continuation through the summer, emphasizing it as a temporary measure while long-term safety solutions are developed. Councilman David Hutcheson opposed the extension, arguing it harms nightclubs and bars already struggling post-COVID. (wtkr.com) Business owners like Reiner Ebert of Chicks Oyster Bar testified that the curfew slashes revenue by 70-80% on peak nights. Ebert called it 'death by 9:30,' highlighting lost income from late-night crowds essential to their operations. (wtkr.com) The curfew stems from May 25, 2023, violence near 24th Street, where a 19-year-old was killed during a large fight involving 100+ young people. Police Chief Jeffery Carraway noted the incident exposed gaps in nighttime crowd control. (wtkr.com) City leaders formed a stakeholder group with business owners, residents, and officials to craft permanent alternatives like enhanced lighting and increased patrols. The group aims to propose solutions before the 2025 summer season. (wtkr.com) Councilwoman Sharon Scott, who initially pushed the curfew, now seeks compromise solutions balancing safety and economic vitality. 'We must find a path that protects our visitors without strangling our businesses,' she said. (wtkr.com)