NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — Months after the city of New Smyrna Beach issued an 11 p.m. youth curfew, police say they have not arrested or cited any teens.

What You Need To Know

  • New Smyrna Beach Police has not cited or arrested any teens under 18 after the youth curfew is implemented in town

  • City commissioners approved the curfew in late February.

  • One business owner says it’s been a help to keep safety at top of mind, teens at bay and streets cleaner

City commissioners approved the curfew in late February.

New Smyrna Beach Police Chief Eric Feldman said hundreds of teens come from out of town every year.

“Around 1,000 unaccompanied juveniles are coming out of town during spring break and Fourth of July every year,” said Feldman over the phone with Spectrum News 13. “New Smyrna Beach has become a destination spot, but we want to maintain a level of security.”

Prior to the curfew, police said they were dealing with an increase in violent crime and property damage.

After a five-month trial, police say the youth curfew has been an effective tool to reduce juvenile crime and discourage larger gatherings beachside during special events.

Alice Muskey, the owner of Treats on the Beach, said the curfew has controlled a lot of problems in the town.

Muskey believes the issue comes when so many kids from middle and high school gather in large groups, which causes fights to break out occasionally.

Muskey said those same crowds haven’t been around since the curfew started.

“As it’s progressed, it’s gotten better because the kids know and the police are more astute on how to treat them, and what to do, and how to control them. So it’s been a good idea,” said Muskey.

She says it’s been a help for business owners, keeping safety at the top of minds, teens at bay, and streets cleaner.

“The messaging to be to the parents to know that their kids will be supervised when they’re here,” said Muskey.

She said she stands by commissioners on potentially extending the curfew.

A spokesperson for the city said commissioners will discuss extending the youth curfew on Oct. 10.

Feldman said he’s all for commissioners extending the curfew. He said his officers have given verbal warnings to remind juveniles about the curfew, but they haven’t had to hand out written warnings.

Spectrum News 13 also asked the Orange County Sheriff’s Office if officials would consider a similar curfew given recent shootings in the county.

A spokesperson said Orange County Sheriff John Mina is not in favor of establishing a curfew in Orange County. A spokesperson said they have not seen research suggesting curfews have a meaningful effect on reducing crime.

“The priority here at the sheriff’s office is to fight violent crime and arrest those who are committing violent crime or distributing deadly drugs like fentanyl in our community. We know that it’s a small group of people — adults and juveniles — who are responsible for most of the violent crime in Orange County. It is not a wise use of law enforcement resources to cast a wide net over all young people in this community by enacting a curfew,” stated the spokesperson.