No shoes, no shirts, no teens—no issues in sight.
A beach town on the Jersey Shore has taken a bold step to curb nighttime chaos by barring all unaccompanied minors from evening activities. This decisive measure aims to squelch the rise in hazardous gatherings, brawls, and underage drinking that have plagued the area.
Cape May City Council has made its stance clear through a unanimous vote to enforce strict curfews. The newly passed ordinances prevent anyone under the age of 18 from accessing the beaches past 8 p.m. without an accompanying adult and prohibit them from being in any public spaces in the city after 10:30 p.m.
“The Cape May Police Department would like to remind residents, visitors, and families about several new city ordinances designed to help keep our beaches, promenade, and community safe,” officials announced on Thursday.
These regulations are crafted to ensure a secure and enjoyable environment for both residents and tourists, particularly during the bustling summer months, city officials emphasized.
The new orders set up two curfews for the adultless youngsters to thwart any rowdiness or out-of-control partying in the beach resort town.
Cape May Mayor Zachary Mullock said the ordinances are to stop troublemakers from other parts of the Jersey Shore making their way to the popular vacation hotspot after hours.
“We really wanted to make sure we didn’t become the afterparty to some of the other towns that have already made this move,” Mullock said, according to WPVI.
“After 10:30, we all know it’s not normally the best stuff that happens then, so to me, honest as a parent myself, I think there’s a good thing,” he added.
Late-night beachgoers will also face restrictions as the new rules prohibit backpacks and other bags from the beach and the city’s famed promenade between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The restricted accessories include book bags, cinch bags, duffel bags, luggage, computer bags, camera bags, and similar bags and containers larger than eight inches in height, width, or depth.
Bags carrying medical devices, supplies and other equipment needed for the immediate care of a person were made an exception to the ban.
“We ask parents and guardians to please be familiar with these requirements and plan accordingly,” the police department said. “Thank you for doing your part to keep Cape May safe!”
Several arrests have been made in recent months due to fighting and underage drinking that have occurred in the overnight hours of the city, the outlet reported.
The two-term Democratic mayor, who is running to unseat incumbent Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2) in the US House of Representatives, praised the ordinances after they took effect Thursday night.
“Frankly, last night, they were out here and the reports I received is that it worked and we just had families out here enjoying a pleasant evening,” Mullock said.
Tourists to the city had no problem with the orders, calling it a proactive measure.
“I think that’s smart. That’s planning ahead,” Staten Islander John Christiansen told WPVI. “It’s really just a few bad kids that cause trouble, so once everyone finds out what they need to do then it’s good. What happened to game night?”
Other portions of the Shore have been inundated by out-of-control youngsters as part of the viral “teen takeover” trends that have led to mass brawls and chaos in the streets.
Just before Memorial Day Weekend, six people were arrested by Long Branch police after a large mass of teens converged on Pier Village for an unauthorized “pop-up” event.
The crowd allegedly began fighting and jumping on cars as they took over the city’s boardwalk and surrounding streets.