New restrictions take effect Thursday night and remain in place until further notice

PLYMOUTH — Plymouth Mayor Crystal Davis has declared a state of emergency and imposed a nighttime curfew for juveniles under 18, marking the second time in less than four months that town officials have enacted emergency restrictions aimed at protecting public safety.

The proclamation, signed Thursday, Oct. 8, prohibits juveniles younger than 18 from being out between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The curfew takes effect Thursday night and will remain in place until further notice.

Unlike a similar emergency declaration issued in June, which restricted juvenile activity in downtown Plymouth for one weekend, the latest proclamation applies to the Town of Plymouth without identifying a specific geographic limitation or expiration date.

“As Mayor of the Town of Plymouth, I, Crystal Davis, hereby declare a State of Emergency for the Town of Plymouth, establishing a temporary curfew for juveniles under the age of eighteen (18) to help ensure public safety,” Davis stated in the signed proclamation.

The document does not explain what prompted the emergency declaration or identify any specific incidents that led to the decision.

Councilmember John Shelton issued a statement on Facebook; "This is a great move until the police can get a handle on the shooting. Another tool for them."

A few hours after releasing notice of the curfew, Davis issued the following statement:

From the Mayor’s Desk

The safety and well being of the citizens of Plymouth remain my highest priority. Over the past several days, our community has experienced multiple shootings in different areas throughout the Town. These incidents have understandably raised concerns among residents and require a coordinated response.

After consultation and coordination with the Plymouth Police Department, the Town has implemented a curfew that will remain in effect until further notice. This decision was made with the safety of our residents in mind. The curfew is one of the measures being taken as we work with law enforcement to respond to the recent incidents and help protect our community.

I am asking everyone to take this situation seriously. Parents and guardians, please know where your children are and make sure they understand the curfew. Residents are encouraged to avoid unnecessary activity during curfew hours and to report suspicious or concerning activity directly to law enforcement.

We must remain vigilant, work together, and take every reasonable step to prevent these incidents from escalating. The Town of Plymouth will continue working closely with the Plymouth Police Department and our community partners as we address these concerns and work to keep our residents safe.

Mayor Davis
Town of Plymouth

The action comes just over three months after Plymouth officials imposed a temporary downtown curfew in response to a gathering promoted on social media as “Downtown Plymouth Takeover Pt. 1.”

As previously reported by the Roanoke Beacon, Davis signed a state of emergency proclamation June 26 restricting juveniles under 18 from being in the downtown district between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. through June 29.

At the time, the town, mayor and Plymouth Police Department issued a joint statement announcing that the proposed gathering had been canceled and warning that attempts to organize or participate in similar unauthorized events would not be tolerated.

“These pop up events are unsafe, illegal, and disruptive to our community,” officials said in the June statement. “We are urging teenagers to stay away from this activity, and we are calling on parents and guardians to speak with their children and make sure they do not take part.”

The town’s response followed concerns about social media-organized gatherings involving large groups of teenagers in public spaces, commonly referred to as “teen takeovers.”

Similar concerns prompted emergency curfews and additional police patrols in other eastern North Carolina communities, including Greenville, during the same weekend.

The anticipated gathering in Plymouth did not materialize, and no major incidents were reported. Plymouth Police Chief Louis Banks subsequently defended the precautionary measures, telling Public Radio East that he preferred explaining why officials took precautions rather than why they failed to act.

Thursday’s proclamation does not indicate whether the latest restrictions are connected to another planned gathering or stem from different public safety concerns.

The declaration also leaves several questions unanswered for Plymouth families, including whether exceptions will be allowed for juveniles traveling to and from work, attending school activities, or accompanied by a parent or guardian.

No specific penalties or enforcement procedures are outlined in the proclamation.

While the June curfew was limited to a single weekend and confined to downtown Plymouth, the new declaration contains no scheduled expiration date, meaning the restrictions could remain in place beyond the weekend unless modified or rescinded by town officials.

The curfew applies to juveniles under 18, not all Plymouth residents. The proclamation does not establish a general curfew for adults or indicate that the restrictions extend to areas of Washington County outside Plymouth’s municipal limits.

Residents seeking clarification about the curfew or its enforcement may contact Plymouth Town Hall at (252) 793-9101.