A curfew has been established for the Town of Belhaven, according to a state of emergency declaration signed by Belhaven Mayor Ricky Credle earlier this week. According to the declaration, the curfew is in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day until the state of emergency is lifted.

Exceptions are provided for city employees, law enforcement officials, government employees and service providers responding in official capacities.

Exemptions also apply to, “those whose appearance is essential in order to obtain or furnish a service or commodity which is immediately necessary to sustain the health or well-being of themselves or someone within the curfew area” and “those whose appearance necessarily occurs in the process of leaving a place at which they were temporarily engaged and for which they could not have reasonably planned their departure to avoid appearing during the period during which the curfew is applicable.”

Additional provisions of the declaration include:

• Authorizing town officials to restrict or deny access to any area, street or location deemed necessary.
• Prohibitions on the sale, consumption, transportation or possession of alcoholic beverages within the town limits. Possession and consumption on a person’s own premise is permitted.
• Prohibitions on the possession, transportation, sale, purchase, storage and use of dangerous weapons (with the exception of legally possessed firearms).