A curfew for teens in Winston-Salem is nearing its expiration date, and the city counci...

A curfew for teens in Winston-Salem is nearing its expiration date, and the city council has decided to let it end.

The ordinance, which went into effect June 22, bars teenagers 17 and younger from being in a public space between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Police Chief William Penn Jr. asked the council Monday to push the expiration from Oct. 12, 2026 to Nov. 1, 2027, saying a full year would give law enforcement a better sense of the ordinance's impact. The council's vote to extend failed 2-6, meaning the curfew ends Oct. 12.

In a presentation, Penn said the ordinance has helped keep teens safe, with fewer juvenile victims during curfew hours, no teen takeovers and fewer interactions with juveniles. He said the city has had seven youth and eight adults charged, plus 19 youth warnings and 10 for adults, and noted exceptions for church, community and school events. Several speakers held up "No Curfew" signs, with one saying the city should fund restorative justice programs, extended community center hours and mental health resources instead.

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Source note: Star News TV · Oct 6, 2026 10:40 PM.