Ocean City Police officers close off beach access during the 8 pm beach curfew on June 3. "Wake up. There were also reports of teens fighting on the Boardwalk last year. Site By EvoGov . Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. It's just become a whole other set of riff-raff that we've never seen before, said business owner and City Council member Jody Levchuk. By Brandon Goldner June 1, 2023 / 11:22 PM / CBS Philadelphia OCEAN CITY, N.J. (CBS) -- Ocean City's city council took the first steps Thursday afternoon in implementing an earlier. Toms River brought back a beach curfew for minors in all its barrier island communities last summer that was in effect starting at 11 p.m. for everyone 17 or younger. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. See Which New Jersey and New York Boardwalks Made List of Best in U.S. Sunday storms dump 7 inches of rain to parts of NY, bringing major flooding risk, 1 killed, 3 hurt after gunman on scooter randomly' opens fire across Brooklyn and Queens, NYC pizzeria named best the in the country, again, '60 hours a week': NYC animal shelters in crisis mode' overwhelmed and at overcapacity, Times Square CVS worker stabs serial shoplifter to death, police say. 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 slow-moving line of thunderstorms is expected to cross the region this afternoon and evening. If a third offense occurs within a year of two or more violations, the adult will be fined between $1,000 to $1,500. Beach and bathroom closures, backpack bans for everyone and earlier curfew for teens in Ocean City. NBC New York's Ted Greenberg reports. Ocean City is dealing with an escalation of underage drinking and fighting by rowdy groups of teenagers that have turned some stretches of the beach into their own personal nightclub.. As a father of two young girls and a local business owner, Ahluwalia said Ocean City is a wonderful place for families and he wants it to stay that way. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The curfew will be in effect through Labor Day weekend. All Rights Reserved. Boardwalk bathrooms will also be closed at 10 p.m. 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. Ocean City officials are preparing to sign off on changes that would tighten a city-wide curfew for minors and restrict access for all ages to the beach and boardwalk area after a weekend that saw police responding to nearly 1,000 incidents, authorities said. However, if a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker violates the ordinance by allowing the children or teens to be out past curfew, the responsible adult party will be fined between $250 and $500 for the first offense. Sea Isle City is not the only municipality along the Jersey Shore to look into imposing curfews to crack down on rowdy teenagers who in the past have taken over beaches and boardwalks during the summer nights. Ocean City Police Chief Jay Prettyman noted that this past weekend marked an uptick in fights and underage drinking from last year, which sent eight underage people to the hospital who were unconscious due to alcohol consumption. Ocean City already has a 10 p.m. curfew for the beaches, City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said. The curfew was established in early July last year after the month before saw a nearly sevenfold increase in juvenile complaints over the same period in 2019, a proclamation signed by the towns emergency management coordinator said at the time. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. With police now limited to giving out warnings for alcohol or marijuana offenses, the teens simply have zero fear, Prettyman said. "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'.. Prettyman pointed out that the biggest problem so far this summer is underage drinking. Effective immediately, an 11 p.m. curfew is in effect for juveniles, and a bag ban will be in effect on the beaches, boardwalk and beach street sections next to the boardwalk between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. Although Ocean City has a 10 p.m. curfew for the beach, police have been keeping the teens on the sand instead of having them swarm the boardwalk. We provided skateparks, basketball courts, so many things on the boardwalk that they could be doing., Romy, who runs a boardwalk shop Blue Sky, is skeptical about the new rules. Ocean City issues new curfew for minors - YouTube 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. But she said that's not even the worst of it. News 4's Pei Sze Cheng has all the details. While Avalon fought that requirement, Ocean City rescinded its curfew. Im sure there are a lot of kids who just come here for a good time, to have a good experience, said Ahluwalia, but recent events have definitely been leaving a sour taste as a business owner., I know there are new rules coming up and I hope its a win-win situation for everyone because we still want people on the boardwalk. The 10 p.m. bathroom closures also began two weeks ago. Get ahold of your kids," said Betson. More N.J. barrier island towns institute curfews for minors - WHYY The public comment period began in group prayer, asking help for teens to curb their behavior. During a meeting Thursday night, members of City Council expressed their frustration with the troublemaking teens. 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. Ocean City's revised laws let police to take unruly teenagers into Frustrations are growing on Long Beach as crowds and fights increase on the beach and boardwalk. Sea Isle City voted Tuesday to enact a curfew for everyone under the age of 18 between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Local business owners and residents who spoke with The Inquirer earlier this month shared mixed opinions on the new laws: Some feel they could hamper business along the boardwalk, while others want harsher punishments for teens. 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. We've had them congregating on the beach because they're on Tik Tok and they tell everybody 'Hey, let's go to Ocean City. Children's Theatre Season Kicks Off At Ocean City Music Pier "I can see both sides. Breaking these ordinances can result in fines for adults, including parents of teens who allow their children out past curfew. On Memorial Day Weekend, parts of Ocean Terrace in the Normandy Beach neighborhood were filled with hundreds of young people. " But people can't get hurt,. "We are just trying to give the police additional tools in maintaining the peace during the summer months when it's so busy in Ocean City," explained Dorothy McCrosson, city solicitor, during a Jan. 12 meeting on the ordinance. The Complicated Future of Student Loans "It's a nice family feel but when you have 200, 300 and Im not exaggerating kids going up and down the street, well obviously thats not a nice family feel," said another resident, Karla. Frustrations are growing on Long Beach as crowds and fights increase on the beach and boardwalk. Under the new rules, all beaches will be closed at 8 p.m. New Jersey Juvenile Curfews Still Controversial, But They Can Pack Big During the call, Prettyman said he urged state officials to carve out an exemption in the law to give police more authority to deal with underage drinking. Teens would not be arrested for these violations and no charges would be filed, but youths could be detained by officers of the Ocean City Police and held at the station until a parent or guardian could be contacted to pick them up. The issue of backpacks is also being tackled by Sea Isle City, where another ordinance could be up for vote Tuesday that would make all backpacks -- except in cases where they are carrying medical devices, essential work equipment for broadcast/electronic/or printed media, are Sea Isle City Police Department officers, or are active fishing on beach -- prohibited on the promenade, the beach, and beach street ends. The curfew comes as two other shore communities further north, Point Pleasant Beach and Long Branch, are again bracing for pop-up parties over the weekend, similar to recent ones that have quickly gotten out of control. These new city ordinances come on the heels of a Memorial Day weekend filled with young people and teenagers congregating in large groups along the Ocean City beaches and boardwalks, a trend that locals say isnt new to Ocean City in recent years. Kids want attention, and theyll do bad things, as well as good, to get it., The city has done a lot to try and accommodate the kids, said Susan Crackovaner, another OC resident. Though, there are exceptions for teenaged workers. At 11 p.m., it will be against the law for underage people to be out in public unchaperoned. The City of Ocean City, New Jersey 861 Asbury Avenue Ocean City, New Jersey 08226 (609) 399-6111; Helpful Links. 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. "Were responding to the residents' request. Officials in Ocean City, New Jersey -- a dry community -- plan to crack down on gatherings of underage revelers this summer, as the city has given police the authority to detain anyone under the age of 18 for "breach of peace" violations. A heightened police presence will be in effect and there will be zero tolerance, for all offenses including motor vehicle infractions.. With Lisa Chow. During the recent meeting of City Council, Leonard C. Desiderio, mayor of Sea Isle City and director of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners called the ordinance a "great first step.". Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. During a spate of rowdiness by groups of teenagers and young adults at the Jersey Shore communities last summer, there were complaints from some local, county and state officials that the directive had effectively handcuffed police from doing their job. Last year's curfews came as two other shore communities further north, Point Pleasant Beach and Long Branch, braced for pop-up parties, with some of these large gatherings having been announced on social media. OCEAN CITY, N.J. - July 9, 2009 "It's not that we have major issues on the beach." Share this story It's just become a whole other set of riff-raff that we've never seen before, said business owner and City Council member Jody Levchuk. "These kids all have backpacks and you know nothing in that is legal," she said "They urinate on peoples yards and they leave their trash all over, and they curse like you cannot even imagine.worse than a sailor.". City Council voted to give police more power in dealing with groups of juveniles who break minor laws, hoping to stop large gatherings. FOOD: Get recipe ideas from Mr. Food! Down in Ocean City, officials said the kids are causing havoc, especially on the beach, and leaders say the problem is getting worse. The City of Ocean City, New Jersey 861 Asbury Avenue Ocean City, New Jersey 08226 (609) 399-6111; Helpful Links. "I think it makes the police's job a little bit easier," said 17-year-old Gavin Kushner of Williamstown. But she said that's not even the worst of it. Mayor Jay Gillian says the bag ban was brought about because of juveniles carrying alcohol and other prohibited items in backpacks. beach curfew for everyone 17 and younger in all its barrier island communities, and it will remain in place for the rest of the summer, through September. 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. NJ July 4 Guide 2023: Parades, Fireworks, Festivals Around The State Its the hottest nightclub at the Jersey Shore right now, he said sarcastically of all the partying on the beach. Two Jersey Shore Towns Announce New Curfew For Summer Season The Toms River Police Department is committed to protecting the residents of our community as well as their property and will not tolerate disrespectful or destructive behavior, the statement said. " NJ Shore Town Curfews: When Do Your Kids Have To Be Off The - Patch 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. Tickets are on sale . Starting at 8 p.m., backpacks larger than 8 inches by 6 inches by 8 inches will be banned from the boardwalk. These ordinances were introduced at an emergency city council meeting on June 1 and were officially adopted on Thursday. Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said the new steps are necessary following the unruly behavior of many over the holiday weekend. An increasing number of Ocean County municipalities along the New Jersey coast have adopted curfews for minors due to non-compliance with pandemic health regulations. The curfew for those under 18 will be 11 p.m. now, instead of 1 a.m. A curfew put into place last year for beach communities of Toms River because of unruly minors in that section of town will continue this summer after some early reports of continuing problems, police said. But people can't get hurt, people can be encouraged to be on the beach at night to go swimming when it's just not safe.". Ocean City Looks to Stop Rowdy Teens | OCNJ Daily Some Toms River residents have pushed for the township to adopt the earlier time as well. Veronica Flesher, Patch Staff. Although Ocean City has a 10 p.m. curfew for the beach, police have been keeping the teens on the sand instead of having them swarm the boardwalk. The plan so far is to keep the partying teenagers on the beaches rather than having them spill out onto the family-friendly Boardwalk, where they could do even more damage, city officials say. Beach crackdown: New rules in effect for Ocean City - New Jersey Ocean City chaos: Leaders poised to alter curfew, other rules aimed at "It's really escalated into a situation where it's getting out of hand," said Barbara Betson, who lives at Second Street and Bay Avenue. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Jersey Shore Towns Impose Curfews in Wild Teen Party Crackdown Beaches were closed at 8 pm. 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. Summer nights will be cut short for children and teens in a Jersey Shore municipality after the city council voted to approve a curfew in an attempt to crack down on unruly minors. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Councilmember Bobby Barr agreed, expressing his support of the effort and sharing his concern that teenagers have become a problem for the community. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Ocean City, NJ: Curew for minors, backpack ban now in effect - CBS The large groups of teens that descend on Ocean Citys boardwalk and beach are impossible to miss, and some officials have said it has become "the hottest nightclub for teenagers at the Jersey Shore" so far this summer. Parents, however, seem in favor of the curfew. These kids understand they will only get a warning and they have become emboldened, he said. Police are limited to a surround, observe and babysit mode when they approach rowdy juveniles now, Prettyman said during a law enforcement summit held in Sea Isle City last February to discuss how to prevent another outbreak of bad behavior this summer. There are fast-growing concerns at the Jersey Shore about large groups of out-of-control teenagers. If the political process goes as planned, all new rules will be officially in effect starting June 16 prior to Fathers Day weekend. A new ordinance prohibits backpacks on the city's promenade, beaches and beach street-ends between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. starting May 15, 2023, and running until Sept . Romy said he used to keep his store open past midnight on Memorial Day weekend since the crowds were good for business. Other residents who addressed council supported the measure, with some calling for the legislation to be extended island-wide, instead of solely focused on beaches, boardwalks and recreational areas. These totals may result in significant street flooding. Effective immediately, an 11 p.m. curfew is in effect for juveniles, and a bag ban will be in effect on the beaches, boardwalk and beach street sections next to the boardwalk after 8 p.m. The council meeting was attended by a couple dozen community members, the seven council members, mayor, city clerk, business administrator, and city solicitor. Ocean City, New Jersey cracking down on rowdy teens with new curfew Seaside Heights Joins Curfew Ranks As NJ Towns Battle Rowdy - Patch Original music by Marion Lozano . It's just become a whole other set of riff-raff that we've never seen before, said business owner and City Council member Jody Levchuk. During their discussion, the Council members repeatedly praised Prettyman and the police department for doing what they can to prevent teenagers from getting out of hand. NJ residents brace for flood watch while reeling from last storm, Bucks Co. officials discover swimmer's body in Delaware River, Philly father, son gunned down after returning from family cookout. This weekend, Ocean City enacts new curfew for minors - NewsBreak By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Some called for harsher punishments for teens caught misbehaving. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. OCEAN CITY, N.J. (CBS) -- Ocean City, New Jersey is enacting new rules on its beach and boardwalk following Memorial Day weekend to "stop gatherings of drunken teens." Mayor Jay Gillian. 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. (Jersey law requires two readings of proposed legislation before being voted on for approval.) The official website of Ocean City, NJ. All rights reserved (About Us). While not confirmed, police said that those organizing or hosting the unauthorized parties would be held "financially and legally responsible.". Councilman Jody Levchuk said Ocean City cant stand by and allow its image as Americas Greatest Family Resort to be tarnished by a bunch of punk kids.. Aired: 06/19/23. "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.". Ocean City officials are preparing to sign off on changes that would tighten a city-wide curfew for minors and restrict access for all ages to the beach and boardwalk area after a weekend. Edited by Devon Taylor and Marc Georges. New laws at the Jersey Shore in 2023 City officials hope these local measures will help, but some visitors have mixed feelings. July 7, 2023. "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.". Later Wednesday evening, Asbury Park police said several social media posts were promoting a pop-up party for their beachfront over the weekend as well. The Sunday Read: 'A Week With the Wild Children of the A.I. Boom' "Your concerns and your challenges are our challenges. We had a little pop up on Ortley Beach, we had a couple hundred kids gather on Third Avenue and the week before there was some problems around the Wawa (on Route 35)," said Toms River Mayor Mo Hill. On Thursday, council members unanimously voted to introduce these resolutions; on June 5, an additional ordinance for banning e-bikes along the boardwalk will be introduced by Gillian. See Which New Jersey and New York Boardwalks Made List of Best in U.S. Get Ahold of Your Kids! Unruly Teen Crowds at Popular Jersey Shore Spot Ignite Backlash, Sunday storms dump 7 inches of rain to parts of NY, bringing major flooding risk, 1 killed, 3 hurt after gunman on scooter randomly' opens fire across Brooklyn and Queens, NYC pizzeria named best the in the country, again, '60 hours a week': NYC animal shelters in crisis mode' overwhelmed and at overcapacity, Times Square CVS worker stabs serial shoplifter to death, police say. Ocean City Theatre Company's Children's Series continues Tuesday mornings at 10:30, with "Red Riding Hood's Woods" on July 18, "Pinocchio" on July 25 and "Rapunzel" on Aug. 1. Ocean City Shore Teenage Crowds Stoke Boardwalk Concerns Mitigating the spread of the coronavirus was also cited as a reason last year for the curfew, but it was not mentioned in a statement released by police Monday afternoon. NJ Spotlight News | Shore town adds teen curfew to curb unruly behavior It could be a lot worse for us in that case.. City council passed two ordinances both aimed at addressing issues involving minors. Unruly Teen Crowds at Popular Jersey Shore Spot Ignite Backlash. The curbside warnings are part of broader reforms in New Jerseys justice system to demonstrate to juveniles that police officers are present to give guidance, direction, and assistance, and not simply to take them into custody, according to the directive. Police chase them off one street, they go to the next street, its a real problem," said Bart Zabelski, who lives in the area. Moreover, the 2020 directive restricts police in how far they can go to investigate juveniles. We had a little pop up on Ortley Beach, we had a couple hundred kids gather on Third Avenue and the week before there was some problems around the Wawa (on Route 35)," said Toms River Mayor Mo Hill at the time. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 93.3 WMMR PA Local XTU Oughta Know I totally support this," Marie Hayes, of Ocean City, said. New city ordinances come on the heels of a Memorial Day weekend filled with young people and teenagers congregating in large groups along the Ocean City beaches and boardwalks. Say goodbye to that nighttime stroll along the Ocean City boardwalk with your backpack, because new rules are in effect in the Shore town. The curfew will be in effect starting at 11 p.m. for everyone 17 or younger. Kane said he has spoken already to Prettyman and First Ward Councilman Terry Crowley Jr. and everyone seems to be on the same page that something needs to be done about the problem. "The kids can get out of control. Police have said the crowds of kids are bigger this year with more underage drinking, more pot smoking and more fighting compared to 2021. Sea Isle City adopts 10 p.m. curfew for teens, bans backpacks on Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Theyre going to leave the beaches and come to the boardwalk right here. I would really just like to see the family atmosphere kind of stay intact as much as possible," said Kaufman. This legislation notes curfews of 10:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. will be in place through May 15. Its far wider than a police problem. a series of incidents over Memorial Day weekend involving teenagers gathering at night, drinking, damaging property, and shoplifting, Ocean City Council introduced these new rules as laws during a special meeting, a special meeting that took less than eight minutes, Local business owners and residents who spoke with The Inquirer earlier this month shared mixed opinions on the new laws, California residents do not sell my data request. Now, he closes up shop around 10:30 p.m., as do other shops near him. Unruly teens have been an issue at shore towns for some time, with business owners and officials in Sea Isle trying new measures to address the problem in recent years. The new beach curfew will apply to people of all ages, as will the evening backpack ban. I'm glad to see this. "You see just wild kids, they go from one street to the next. Subsequently, from Sept. 16 to May 14, curfew shall be 11 p.m. until 6 a.m., and beginning 72 hours prior to Halloween and on Halloween night, curfew shall be 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following day. The chaos forced city leaders to announce big changes to keep peace this summer, beginning with an 11 p.m. curfew for kids under 18 and backpacks on the boardwalk will be banned between 8 p.m. and . Ocean City council members held an emergency meeting on Thursday to give the first reading of two laws one that would tighten the city-wide curfew for minors and another that would ban. Click here to get the latest Philadelphia news and headlines from across the Delaware and Lehigh valleys. Jersey Shore town's late night backpack ban, youth curfew - nj.com On Memorial Day Weekend, parts of Ocean Terrace in the Normandy Beach neighborhood were filled with hundreds of young people. 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. Juveniles are not required to give police their names. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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.
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