Wake Forest expected to pass curfew for Friday Night on White

Town officials tentatively approved a plan before the board of commissioners last week that would impose a curfew on unsupervised minors attending the Friday Night on White concert series.

If the motion is passed during second reading during the board’s June 4 work session, it would become unlawful for unsupervised minors to be at or remain in the event area after 8 p.m. during nights when a concert is taking place downtown.

Town officials say that rowdiness at April’s concert was spurred by groups of unsupervised minors. Groups of teens engaged in fights and loud behavior that were disruptive to many attendees.

They hope a more strict curfew would deter their presence at concerts going forward, or force them to rejoin with their parents or guardians later in the evening as the sun sets.

“This is a tool in their [Wake Forest Police’s] box to use if someone is misbehaving,” Town Manager Kip Padgett said. “This gives them the enforcement ability to do something about, because right now they don’t have that enforcement ability.

In April, police observed what they believed to be unsupervised minors being dropped off in large numbers by ride-share services before the event.

The rowdy behavior seen at April’s event did not occur at May’s event. But town officials largely attribute that to a thunderstorm that rolled through just after the event began and caused many to leave early or seek shelter indoors.

Where the event typically draws 10,000 to 12,000 people, May’s only drew about 7,000 due to the weather.

With the event taking place downtown, one benefit it aims to achieve is to draw an influx of customers to downtown businesses. However, Commissioner Adam Wright expressed concern that the unruly attendees have prompted some of those businesses to close early in response to the disruption.

“We’re seeing lots of these businesses close early in response to what these kids are doing and that doesn’t really sit right with me,” he said.

The motion passed in a 3-2 vote with Mayor Vivian Jones casting the deciding vote. Commissioners Ben Clapsaddle and Faith Cross voted not to approve, with Clapsaddle citing the need for clearer language when it comes to what “supervision” entails, and Cross desiring the amendment to apply only to those aged 16 or younger.

In terms of enforcement, Jones suggested a system in which those minors who enter the event with parents or guardians are given a wristband to wear, Once 8 p.m. hits, those without wristbands would be compelled to present proof that they do indeed have supervision in their immediate vicinity or risk being removed from the event.

The motion is expected to be fully adopted before the next event in the series, which will take place on June 14.

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