These SC cities have curfews to keep teens from gathering. 2 curfews have lasted since 1991

Several South Carolina cities have teen curfews in place, many much more stringent than Columbia’s.

Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson announced a curfew of 5 p.m. every day on unaccompanied minors at Finlay Park after several fights broke out and ammunition was found on a playground during a Juneteenth festival.

In most cities, curfews are in place across their downtowns.

Greenville has had such a policy since 1991 when there was an uptick in juvenile crime in the central business district, Greenville Police Sergeant Johnathan Bragg said.

The ordinance says anyone younger than 18 may not be unaccompanied by a parent or guardian on public streets, plazas or parks without a parent or guardian in the Central Business District after 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, until 6 a.m. the following morning.

Exceptions are if the teen is an emancipated minor, traveling to or from a religious service or work or volunteering or attending a performance or event.

They also cannot drive through downtown, which once was a major problem.

After the City Council passed the curfew ordinance, parents generally stopped leaving their children downtown unattended, Bragg said.

The ordinance calls for children to be taken to City Hall until a parent can pick them up.

“We rarely have to detain juveniles and hold them until their parents arrive because officers working downtown issue proactive warnings before the curfew goes into effect,” he said. “Initially, we enforced the ordinance regularly, but enforcement tapered off as the community became aware of it and our enforcement actions were recognized.”

Police have recently seen an increase in juveniles left unattended downtown after 10 p.m. on weekends and have stepped up enforcement.

“We want parents and minors to be aware that the curfew is in effect so they can make plans ahead of time,” said Greenville Police Major Chi Blair. “We want everyone to safely enjoy our downtown each weekend, and that includes making sure unaccompanied minors are out of public areas by 10 p.m.”

Minors also may be charged for any additional violations discovered during an encounter with police.

Florence, too, has had a curfew since 1991 and updated it in January to apply to anyone 17 or younger from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. everyday. It previously applied to 16 year olds and younger.

In the core downtown curfew begins at 9 p.m.

The update was initiated after a fight between two teens left one of them shot to death. A 14-year-old was arrested.

In Charleston, a new juvenile curfew ordinance went into effect a year ago in the Central Business District.

It applies to anyone 17 and younger and prohibits them from remaining in a public place, motor vehicle, or establishment in the Central Business District between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or falling under a clearly defined exception outlined in the ordinance.

“This is not about banning young people from the Central Business District,” Police Chief Chito Walker said. “It is not about criminalizing youth. And it is certainly not about removing opportunity.”

He said it is instead a plea to protect children when they are most vulnerable and when risk is highest.

“This ordinance calls on parents and guardians to know where their children are, because prevention does not and will not start with police,” he said. “It starts at home.”

He said the Central Business District is for adults in the late nights.

“It’s an adult environment with adult energy,” he said. “And when things go wrong there, they can go wrong fast for our young people. Guns. Fights. Stealing. Drugs. These are not theoretical risks. We are responding to what is already happening.”

In Myrtle Beach, the curfew applies to the downtown Ocean Boulevard area and prohibits unaccompanied minors, 17 and under, in city-owned properties after 9 p.m., unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The curfew zone includes areas from the ocean to Kings Highway, from 6th Avenue South to 21st Avenue North, and extends to Broadway Street between 7th Avenue North and 9th Avenue North, the city says on its website.

There is a citywide juvenile curfew from midnight to 6:00 a.m.

“Minors found in violation of the juvenile curfew will have their cases handled in accordance with the South Carolina Juvenile Justice Code,” the Myrtle Beach ordinance says. “Adults who violate the ordinance may be subject to a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.”