Detroit City Council approves 8 p.m. curfew for teens on Ford Fireworks night
The City of Detroit will implement an earlier-than-usual curfew on Monday night in conjunction with the 2026 Ford Fireworks show.
As the date approached, city officials introduced – and approved on Tuesday – an emergency ordinance invoking an 8 p.m. curfew for teens. The curfew will apply to any rescheduled dates. The Detroit City Council approved the measure by a 6-2 vote, minors in a designated downtown fireworks zone to be accompanied by a responsible adult age 21 or older, beginning at 8 p.m.
Opponents of the proposal argued that the city is restricting responsible young people because of the actions of a small number of individuals.
"I don't want to penalize the rest of our children. We need to be teaching our children, educating our children. If we expect bad behavior, we get bad behavior, and this is exactly what we're saying to our 16- and 17-year-olds," said Councilwoman Mary Waters.
Supporters of the ordinance say the curfew is a necessary safety measure for one of Detroit's largest events.
Several council members pointed to recent violence downtown as evidence that additional precautions are needed.
"I think that what happened downtown with that 14-year-old that got shot and nearly lost his life, thank God he didn't. We can't have that, and we have to have a very strong symbol that we're not going to tolerate that," said Coleman Young II, Detroit City Council President Pro Tem, At Large.
Another major concern raised during the debate was how the curfew would be enforced.
The Detroit Police Department says officers will not be randomly stopping young people to check their age.
"We are not carding individuals that are down there, but it is a tool of deterrence," said Detroit Deputy Police Chief Franklin Hayes.
Police say that the youth found in violation would be taken to the Coleman A. Young Recreation Center, while parents or guardians are contacted.
One of the two no votes came from Public Health and Safety Committee Chair Denzel McCampbell, who said the bigger question is whether the curfew will actually achieve what supporters say it will.
"Opposition to this ordinance change does not mean I don't care about public safety. What I'm saying is that I don't find it effective to put this in place," said McCampbell.
Council members say they plan to review the ordinance's effectiveness in the months ahead.
The superseding curfew will be in effect from 8 p.m. June 22 to 6 a.m. June 23 in the area surrounded by the Detroit River, Third Street, the Lodge Freeway (M-10), the Fisher Freeway (I-75), the extension of the Fisher Freeway (I-75) easterly to Gratiot Avenue, Gratiot Avenue, Vernor Highway, Chene Street, Atwater Street and the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater.
The fireworks show along the Detroit River is one of the biggest summer events in Detroit, with free public viewing from Hart Plaza, Belle Isle, and other downtown locations.
