No shoes, no shirt, no unsupervised teens after dark — that’s the new message in Cape May.
The popular Jersey Shore beach town is tightening its rules on nighttime activity, banning minors who are not with an adult from certain public areas in an effort to curb disorderly crowds, fights and underage drinking.
Cape May City Council voted unanimously to approve the new curfew ordinances, which prohibit anyone under 18 from accessing the beach without adult supervision after 8 p.m. The measures also bar unaccompanied minors from other public spaces across 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 said Thursday.
“These ordinances are intended to help maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for our residents and visitors, particularly during the busy summer season.”
The updated Cape May curfew rules create two separate nighttime restrictions aimed at preventing unsupervised teen gatherings from turning into disruptive parties in the resort community.
Mayor Zachary Mullock said the city moved to act before Cape May became a late-night destination for young people leaving other Jersey Shore towns with similar restrictions already in place.
“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.
