News Summary
The Virginia Beach Police Department is seeking to establish special enforcement zones to manage unruly crowds during large gatherings, particularly those organized on social media. This measure, prompted by unpermitted events turning chaotic, would allow police to clear areas, impose curfews, and issue citations. The proposal requires an amendment to the Virginia state code and has been included in the city council’s legislative wish list for the upcoming General Assembly. Local jurisdictions would need to provide 24 hours’ notice before enforcement, aiming to enhance public safety.
Virginia Beach Police Department is seeking to establish special enforcement zones aimed at managing unruly crowds during large gatherings, particularly those organized on social media platforms. This initiative comes in light of increasing concerns regarding unpermitted events turning chaotic, prompting the police to request broader authority to ensure public safety during these instances.
The proposed enforcement zones would enable police officers to take specific actions, including clearing areas, imposing curfews, issuing citations, and recovering costs from event organizers. For these zones to be activated, officers would need to issue a notice at least 24 hours in advance, detailing the exact location and timing of the enforcement. However, the implementation of these zones necessitates an amendment to the Virginia state code.
The Virginia Beach City Council has included the request for ‘pop-up’ event zones in its legislative wish list for consideration in the upcoming 2026 General Assembly. This request is motivated by recent experiences during events such as the College Beach Weekend, which has highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing large crowds without prior permits.
During College Beach Weekend, Virginia Beach police reported making 53 arrests, filing over 200 charges, and confiscating 28 firearms. The majority of these arrests involved men in their early 20s or teenagers from the Hampton Roads area, demonstrating a need for more effective crowd control measures. College Beach Weekend typically occurs at the end of April, coinciding with the final exams period for students from nearby historically Black colleges and universities.
Data indicates that crime levels during College Beach Weekend mirror those of busy summer holiday weekends, with Police Chief Paul Neudigate expressing that an increased police presence alone is inadequate for addressing the challenges posed by large, unpermitted gatherings. To this end, similar legislative measures have already been employed in other resort cities such as Ocean City, Maryland, and Miami Beach, Florida, which have also faced issues with spontaneous events.
For clarity, ‘pop-up’ events are defined as unpermitted gatherings of over 50 people that are promoted through social media. While the request for the establishment of enforcement zones is progressing, there are preliminary concerns regarding how these heightened authorities might intersect with First Amendment rights, particularly in relation to unpermitted protests. Additionally, the city is committed to coordinating with the General Assembly to ensure that such zones are activated solely when there are legitimate public health or safety risks.
Local jurisdictions would be required to provide a minimum of 24 hours’ notice before enforcing a pop-up zone, and clearly marked signage would be necessary to indicate the boundaries of these zones. Notably, traffic fines within the enforcement zones would be doubled, although the maximum penalty would not exceed $500 per violation.
As for the next steps, city officials will engage with state delegates to communicate the proposal and seek sponsorship for bills that address the issue ahead of the General Assembly session, which begins on January 14, 2026. This effort marks a proactive approach by the Virginia Beach Police Department to enhance public safety amid the growing prevalence of unpermitted gatherings prompted by social media outreach.
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Additional Resources
- Pilot Online: VB Police Beach Parties Control
- Wikipedia: Virginia Beach
- 13 News Now: Jackalope Fest Virginia Beach
- Google Search: Virginia Beach events
- WTKR: Pharrell Williams to Visit Virginia Beach
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Virginia Beach
- Pilot Online: Police Threaten Pop-Up Events
- Google News: Virginia Beach police pop up events
Author: STAFF HERE VIRGINIA BEACH WRITER
The VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HEREVirginiaBeach.com, your trusted source for actionable local news and information in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach City, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with comprehensive coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—supported by years of expert reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while offering top reporting on high-profile events like the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, East Coast Surfing Championship, and military homecoming celebrations, alongside key organizations such as the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and Oceana Naval Air Station, plus leading businesses in tourism and defense like Busch Gardens and Northrop Grumman, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREWilliamsburg.com, providing credible, in-depth insights into Virginia's vibrant landscape. HERE Virginia Beach HERE Williamsburg
