Major Takeaways From City Council’s Teen Takeover Meeting

After a Fourth of July weekend marked by multiple Teen Takeovers and marred by violence, city leaders are moving quickly toward what could become the first youth curfew instituted in Raleigh’s history. 

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, RPD Chief Rico Boyce outlined how other cities have responded to the growing national trend—and why Raleigh should follow suit. “We are a major city,” said Boyce. “Safety is a shared responsibility—RPD is going to do our part.” Here are the biggest takeaways.

Youth Curfew

• A youth curfew could arrive as early as August, applying citywide to youth 17-and-under (pending ordinance language). 
• City Council unanimously directed City Manager Marchell Adams-David to take the lead on an ordinance to bring back at City Council’s next meeting Aug. 18.
• The ordinance would still require public input, two hearings and council approval.
• Curfew times were discussed but not finalized.
• Emergency curfews could still be enacted sooner if intelligence warrants.

Not Just a Raleigh Problem

• Many of the teens involved in the Takeovers came from outside Raleigh.
• Boyce emphasized Raleigh is now a major city facing challenges similar to other metros.
• Other cities have already implemented such youth curfews and other strategies, including Greensboro, Greenville, Winston-Salem and Charlotte.

Moore Square Tells Another Story

• Despite the violence elsewhere, Boyce described a separate July 4 Teen Takeover in Moore Square as “a nonevent.”
• RPD had intel on that Takeover in advance.
• As teens gathered, they quickly dispersed with RPD’s presence.

The Conversation Went Beyond Curfews

• Public Safety
  • Boyce suggested pairing the youth curfew with a backpack restriction.
  • Councilmember Megan Patton proposed hosting gun buyback events.
  • Patton also emphasized the safe storage program, noting 12-year-olds can’t walk into a gun shop and buy guns, so education around secure storage could help keep firearms out of young hands.
  • Councilmember Jane Harrison encouraged further discussion around gun control legislation.
  • Boyce acknowledged RPD plans to strengthen communication with local businesses, specifically in the Entertainment District.

• Prevention
  • Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Director Stephen Bentley and Community Engagement Director Tiesha Mosley discussed expanding “third places” for teens, along with such city resources as sports, gaming, and leadership and after-school programs—particuarly in ZIP Codes 27601 and 27604.
  • Mosley also discussed opportunities to expand the Raleigh Youth Council.

• Accountability
  • Councilmember Corey Branch highlighted the significance of school accountability, suggesting the city leverage existing attendance policies that hold parents accountable when students accumulate excessive absences.
  • Mayor Janet Cowell directed staff to work with the District Attorney’s Office and Wake County Public Schools to identify immediate needs while asking Chief Boyce to return with a report on broader issues and longer-term recommendcations.
  • Harrison also called for further investigation into how Teen Takeovers are organized on social media, including where messages originate and how they’re spread.

What’s Next

• Directed the city manager to draft an ordinance.
• Requested input from the DA.
• Requested school input.
• Asked Boyce to return with long-term recommendations.

The More You Know

• Police estimate closer to 8,000 teens gathered on Glenwood South Saturday night.
• Saturday’s major Teen Takeover started at Brier Creek before moving to Glenwood South.
• Boyce noted that NC’s “Raise the Age” law changed juvenile jurisdiction in 2019. Prior, 16- and 17-year-olds were automatically treated as adults. Today, most fall under the juvenile justice system.
• Councilmember Christina Jones also indicated that repeated problems at annual events—such as Brier Creek’s Fourth of July celebration—could influence future permitting decisions.