OCEAN CITY, NJ — City Council will hold an emergency meeting Thursday following the announcement that they plan to enact stricter rules on the beach and boardwalk.
These rules, including a beach curfew for all ages and a ban on backpacks after 8 p.m., come after police responded to 999 incidents over Memorial Day Weekend, including underage drinking, assaults and more.
READ MORE: 999 Emergency Calls Spark Beach Crackdowns In Ocean City
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The next City Council meeting was scheduled for June 8, but officials set the emergency meeting for June 1 at 1 p.m. so that the new ordinances could be proposed and adopted prior to Father’s Day weekend (June 16), which is when the next large influx of teenagers is expected in Ocean City, according to agenda documents.
Over the past few years, the issue of teenagers and young adults disrupting Ocean City has been increasing. Local police were given more power to deal with these situations back in January, but officials clearly are hoping to do more still. Read more: Police Get More Power To Stop Teen Gatherings In Ocean City
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About a year ago, residents and vacationers complained to City Council about the impact that the groups of teens had, noting that some people were actually being turned away from Ocean City because of them. Read more: Ocean City Residents Worry About Teen Beach Gatherings
A news release announcing the new crackdowns put the blame on state lawmakers.
“The new policies come in response to a Memorial Day Weekend in Ocean City that saw the continuation of a trend that began when statewide legislation largely stripped police officers of the ability to question juveniles, search juveniles, and confiscate alcohol. The legislation also eliminates meaningful consequences for juveniles who break these laws,” the news release reads.
“We want parents, grandparents and families to know that we’re all in this together, and we will be holding people accountable,” Mayor Jay Gillian said. “I also want to send a message to our governor and legislators that the laws they forced on all municipalities are a threat to public safety, and they deprive families of the opportunity to enjoy the Jersey Shore.”
The meeting Thursday will be followed by Gillian and Police Chief Jay Prettyman addressing the public at Ocean City Music Pier.
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