Popular beach town cracks down on teens with curfews after fights, underage drinking
A popular Jersey Shore beach town is following its neighbors’ lead by imposing new restrictions on unaccompanied minors amid concerns about underage drinking, fights and other disruptive behavior.
Cape May’s City Council unanimously approved measures requested by the local police department that bar anyone under 18 from the beach after 8 p.m. unless accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied minors are also prohibited from public places between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
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The Cape May Police Department announced that in addition to the curfews, "backpacks and certain bags/containers are prohibited on the Cape May beaches and promenade" after 8:00 p.m., except those containing necessary medical equipment.
"Several arrests have stemmed from fights and underage drinking," Philadelphia ABC station WPVI-TV reported.
Cape May is a historic seaside resort town at the southern tip of New Jersey, famed for its Victorian architecture. Since 2002, its municipal code has prohibited minors from public places between midnight and 6 a.m. between May and September (and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the off-season).
Officials said the new rules are intended in part to prevent the large-scale youth gatherings that have disrupted other Jersey Shore communities. The ordinances are designed "to help keep our beaches, promenade and community safe," they said.
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"We really wanted to make sure we didn't become the afterparty to some of the other towns that have already made this move," Cape May Mayor Zachary Mullock told WPVI-TV after the city enacted the new ordinances.
"After 10:30, we all know it's not normally the best stuff that happens, then so to be honest as a parent myself, I think there's a good thing," Mullock added.
Other Jersey Shore communities, including Ocean City, Wildwood, North Wildwood and Seaside Heights, have adopted similar curfews and restrictions.
In May, the City of Long Branch announced it had restored order after an unauthorized pop-up gathering drew several hundred teenagers and young adults to the beachfront.
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"The event quickly deteriorated into fights, individuals jumping on parked vehicles and disorder along the boardwalk and surrounding streets," the city announced in a press release.
The response ultimately involved 139 officers from Long Branch and assisting agencies, according to the city. Long Branch enacted an emergency 8:00 p.m. curfew, and officers made six arrests in connection with the incident.
"Pop-up gatherings of this nature have repeatedly disrupted Jersey Shore communities, and Long Branch is prepared to act decisively whenever public safety is threatened," Long Branch business administrator and director of public safety Charles Shirley said at the time.
Cape May Police Chief Dekon Fashaw stressed that the measures aren't intended to discourage young people from visiting the resort town.
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"We aren’t against juveniles," Fashaw said. "We are not saying we don’t want them here. While they’re here, we just want them to be responsible."
Mullock said the ordinances appeared to be having an immediate effect.
"Frankly, last night, they were out here, and the report I received is that it worked, and we just had families out here enjoying a pleasant evening," he said.
Some visitors are reportedly supportive of the new measures.
"The thing with Cape May especially, this place kinda shuts down at 10, 10:30. So I mean, people are going to bed, I kind of understand it," Jack McCune, of Yardley, Pa., told WPVI-TV.
"I think that's smart. That's planning ahead," said John Christiansen from Staten Island, New York. "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?"
Fox News Digital reached out to Cape May public officials for comment.