New Jersey has created yet another curfew for children under 18 years of age on the Jersey Shore this summer. This time it is Toms River where those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult during select hours, according to The Patch.
The curfew will be every night starting from 10 pm to 5 am It will begin this Friday (May 26) right at the start of Memorial Day weekend, Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill and Police Chief Mitch Little announced Wednesday. It will be in place until Tuesday, Sept. 5. This curfew is affected by North Beach and Ortley Beach. The only exceptions to the curfew are if teens travel from a job or do an errand that an adult has requested. Teen activities under the First Amendment are also protected.
“We don’t want to have a repeat of the incidences we had during previous summer seasons,” Hill said. “Last year, before we implemented the curfew, we had a few pop-up parties occur with large crowds of young people disturbing the peace in Ortley Beach. We are looking to prevent that from happening again this year.”
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“Incidents involving groups of juveniles strained police resources, disrupted businesses, lawful activities and residents and visitors trying to enjoy our beautiful resort area,” said Little, who signed the executive order creating the curfew in his capacity as the township’s Emergency Management Coordinator.
Last year, over the July 4 holiday weekend, 24 complaints were called in about unruly teens. Included in the complaints was a fight that broke out at Barnacle Bill’s Amusements, where two officers were injured. Two teens were arrested that weekend. One of them was a 16-year-old girl from Millburn. She apparently was intoxicated and tried to hit a police officer, police said per the outlet.