The 10 p.m. bathroom closures also began two weeks ago. If they refuse, they will be taken to a station and their parent, guardian or caretaker will be called. The council meeting was attended by a couple dozen community members, the seven council members, mayor, city clerk, business administrator, and city solicitor. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. (Karen Wall/Patch) SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ On Saturday night of Memorial Day weekend, Seaside Heights police spent several hours dealing with a horde of teens who had flooded the boardwalk. I'm glad to see this. Aired: 06/19/23. It's been two weeks since Ocean City officials announced the new rules after a rowdy Memorial Day weekend with teens partying on the beach. Rating: NR. Nightly beach and bathroom closures will take effect immediately, as Gillian has the authority to do that. It will apply to all public places and businesses, and applies to parents, guardians and caretakers as well who have knowledge. There were also reports of teens fighting on the Boardwalk last year. Kane suggested that the city should consider cordoning off the park at night. Juveniles will get two warnings before police can take them in and call their parents. NBC New York's Ted Greenberg reports. The curfew will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and will last until September 15. Now that the curfew is approved, it will go into effect in 20 days. Over the last couple of years, Memorial Day weekend has consistently gotten worse, said Prettyman. Last summer, the police department increased patrols throughout town, particularly along the Boardwalk and in the downtown business district, to stop groups of unruly teenage bikers from riding through the streets and harassing motorists. This is serious and its not just in Ocean City.. by Henry Savage Published Jun 15, 2023 Say goodbye to that nighttime stroll along the Ocean City boardwalk with your backpack, because new rules are in effect in the Shore town. A spokesman for the town told NBC New York at the time that they will make adjustments if necessary, and that public safety always comes first. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The City of Ocean City, New Jersey 861 Asbury Avenue Ocean City, New Jersey 08226 (609) 399-6111; Helpful Links. McCrosson acknowledged that the teens have been staying on the beaches later than 10 p.m. A formerly quiet bayside park at Second Street and Bay Avenue has become another area for loitering, drinking and loud music at night by groups of young people, neighbors complained to City Council during the meeting Thursday night. I totally support this," Marie Hayes, of Ocean City, said. Prettyman was part of a conference call last week that included police chiefs from Monmouth and Ocean counties, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, the head of the State Police and a representative of Gov. Following a series of incidents over Memorial Day weekend involving teenagers gathering at night, drinking, damaging property, and shoplifting, Ocean Citys local leadership responded with new rules that will see beaches and bathrooms closed earlier, backpacks banned from the boardwalk at 8 p.m., and the curfew for those under 18 moved up from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. On June 1, Ocean City Council introduced these new rules as laws during a special meeting called by Mayor Jay Gillian after Memorial Day weekend. "Because of all the stuff that's been going on. Last year, we had 60 shoplifters, this year, we are over 100., READ MORE: Those characters you meet | Down the Shore. Also, no businesses would be permitted to allow teens -- unaccompanied by a relative or guardian -- to "loiter, idle, wander, stroll, play in, remain in or be upon" after curfew times. Theyre going to leave the beaches and come to the boardwalk right here. Over the weekend, police responded to 999 incidents, an increase of 130 over last years Memorial Day weekend, which included underage drinking, vandalism, assaults, shoplifting and the confiscation of a gun, according to a statement from the city. 6 FUN THINGS - Not heading to the shore? Beach and bathroom closures, backpack bans for everyone and earlier curfew for teens in Ocean City. 93.3 WMMR PA Local XTU Oughta Know COVID-19 Information and Resources - Ocean City, New Jersey June 10, 2022 33813 Ocean City officials want to prevent large groups of disruptive teenagers from invading the family-friendly Boardwalk. Parents have to stop sending their kids to the Ocean City Boardwalk unsupervised, he said. Ocean City's new ordinances give teens an earlier curfew Frustrations are growing on Long Beach as crowds and fights increase on the beach and boardwalk. "We dont want to inhibit the youngsters going out and have a good time, but we do want to prevent any property damage or mischief that might be going on.". Say goodbye to that nighttime stroll along the Ocean City boardwalk with your backpack, because new rules are in effect in the Shore town. News 4's Pei Sze Cheng has all the details. "I think having a curfew is a good idea," said Mark Schwertfeger of Collegeville, Pa. "It's just my personal opinion, for safety reasons, mostly.". said Jim Rutala, Ocean City administrator. " The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The official website of Ocean City, NJ. New Restrictions Now In Effect At Ocean City Beaches - Patch The issue came up at a city council meeting earlier in the month. In summer, from May 16 through September 30, curfews will extend from 1 a.m. until 6 a.m. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. What's in Ocean City. NJ, Ordinance Aimed at Teens "For me, since I carry a backpack because of my little one, that's a little bit difficult just because that's my go-to bag," said Erin Hannaford of Harrisburg. It appeared that some of the incidents were continuing this year, the spokeswoman told NJ Advance Media Monday. She suggested that Ocean City should use social media as a tool to somehow intercept the arrival of disruptive teens this summer. Share this story Ocean City, New Jersey cracking down on rowdy teens with new curfew Police Get More Power To Stop Teen Gatherings In Ocean City Some claim teens are also congregating elsewhere in town and making lots of noise. Though, there are exceptions for teenaged workers. Beaches were closed at 8 pm. Officials said that huge groups of kids at Ocean City are causing havoc out on the beach, with more drinking, pot smoking and fighting than before. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our, Chris Sheldon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, because of unruly minors in that section of town. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch in effect for Ocean City from 2 p.m. through midnight on Sunday, July 9. Police said last year the minors were congregating nightly in violation of social distancing and face mask restrictions and committing acts of vandalism and criminal mischief. Destruction of property, loud obscenities, and trespassing were all listed as some of the things the juveniles were doing last summer. Police have said the crowds of kids are bigger this year with more underage drinking, more pot smoking and more fighting compared to 2021. Two Jersey Shore Towns Announce New Curfew For Summer Season "You see just wild kids, they go from one street to the next. Ocean City's mayor pointed to state legislation that he says limits police officers when it comes to questioning or searching juveniles. Councilman Tom Rotondi said shore communities should band together to pressure state lawmakers into approving reforms that would help police to handle teenage rowdiness. The citywide juvenile curfew will move up from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. once city officials take the required action Thursday, authorities said. "Were responding to the residents' request. "Im sure we all look on social media and [see] tourists saying, Im afraid to let my little kids up on the board walk because these older kids are out of control'.. In the end, protecting our reputation as Americas Greatest Family Resort will benefit everybody in Ocean City., I want to support the men and women of our police department, Gillian continued. Now, he closes up shop around 10:30 p.m., as do other shops near him. Unruly Teen Crowds at Popular Jersey Shore Spot Ignite Backlash. News 4's Pei Sze Cheng has all the details. Seaside Heights Joins Curfew Ranks As NJ Towns Battle Rowdy - Patch Moreover, the 2020 directive restricts police in how far they can go to investigate juveniles. Both quit on the spot, according to city officials. The warnings are known in police parlance as curbside adjustments or curbside warnings. A December 2020 directive by former New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal requires officers to give curbside warnings to juveniles who are engaging in minor acts of delinquency instead of detaining or arresting them. You get overwhelmed with 20 kids coming into your store, said Abraham Romy, who witnessed teens lighting fireworks on the beach and experienced two cases of shoplifting at his boardwalk apparel shop, Blue Sky, over the weekend. A youth curfew and backpack ban went into effect Thursday in Ocean City, adding to earlier rules that closed beaches at 8 p.m. and boardwalk restrooms at 10 p.m. The City of Ocean City, New Jersey 861 Asbury Avenue Ocean City, New Jersey 08226 (609) 399-6111; Helpful Links. On Thursday, the council unanimously voted to approve the new regulations and put the nighttime rules on backpacks and curfews for teens into effect immediately during a special meeting that took less than eight minutes. I understand that these new directives will affect many people who are not teens, but its important that we stop this type of behavior now, Gillian said in a statement. The disruptive behavior threatens to literally destroy the normally tranquil area of Second Street and Bay Avenue, one of the neighbors, James Kane, told Council. Lavallette Township's curfew will be in effect until Sept. 3. It puts police at risk of being charged with a third-degree crime for depriving juveniles of their civil rights if they are searched without sufficient cause. Hosted by Natalie Kitroeff. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian if they are out at that time, because the ordinance also makes it "unlawful for any parent or guardian to allow an unaccompanied juvenile to be on any public street or in any public right-of-way during those hours.".