The Greensboro, N.C., City Council approved an ordinance to reinstate a downtown curfew for teenagers Wednesday after a massive fight broke out last weekend that required local police to call other jurisdictions for support, MyFox8.com reported.
The measure was easily passed, in an 8-to-1 vote, during a special meeting that was called to address the issue.
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The curfew goes into effect immediately, the report said. It bans anyone under the age of 17 from downtown Greensboro between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Those who are caught violating the ordinance could potentially be arrested.
City council members could revisit the curfew in 60 days.
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Greensboro police arrested 11 ranging from 16 to 20 years old and had to use papper spray and a stun gun to manage the crowd, the report said. Some officers suffered minor injuries.
Security cameras outside two nightclubs showed two groups of teens walking toward each other and several people running away into the streets.
Mayor Robbie Perkins told The News-Record that “this is a problem for the city of Greensboro. It’s a problem for youth. It’s a problem for parents.”
"The root problem is, 'Why are these large groups of young people congregating downtown?'" Perkins said. "This is a problem for the city of Greensboro. It’s a problem for youth. It’s a problem for parents."
City leaders also discussed adding up to 50 officers downtown during the weekend in addition to new traffic restrictions.
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