Want To Runway

[Unregistered]

Hey im having problems at home with my mom and i feel like i want to runway and live with my boyfriend. Because we always argue everyday or sometimes but i cant take it anymore. Im actually 16 but im turn 17 in january but the only problem is well parents call the cops on me if i run away. i live in wilson nc but idk if i will get arrested or not but i really want to move out nd live with my boyfriend because i cant take it anymore like im done with her.

[ccsmod8]

RE: Want To Runway

Hello there –

Thanks for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline with your concerns. From your email to us here, we can see that you have very similar questions to a lot of our callers and you’re looking for some answers. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on and thinking about what would happen if you did run away. Hopefully we can help you with some of those questions you have.

Like we tell a lot of our callers and/or people that email us, the laws on that specific subject of running away vary from state to state. Generally what typically happens in each state is if you are below the legal age of majority (18 in most states except Alabama and Nebraska [19 or upon marriage], and Mississippi [21]), your parents would be able to make a runaway report in the event that you do run away. Since it’s only considered a statues offense and not a crime to run away, the only thing that would happen is that the police will pick you up and bring you back home. This is of course if you had any interaction with the police directly or if they stopped you to ask you a few questions. Since you’re only 16 years old, your parents can even send to police over to where you have been planning on staying to come and get you to bring you back home. If you didn’t have anywhere to stay, staying at a youth shelter might be difficult as well because most shelters are required to call a child’s parents to let them know where they are and even then most aren’t going to be a lot term living situation for youth.

Sounds like you have been thinking about moving from home for quite some time now. What would your overall plan be (i.e long term housing, transportation, financial stability, access to food/clothes, school, etc.)? Having a solid plan about what you are planning on doing it might be a good idea so that you can think about what is reasonably possible for you to do and want isn’t. If they did make a runaway report and you are planning on staying with someone else, your parent can press charges on that family for harboring a runaway when they are not giving accurate information on your whereabouts. That could lead to a number of different legal issues. So that might be something to keep in mind as well.