Will Ocean City and Margate Get Tough on Teen Crime?

Ocean City is fed up with rowdy teens. So much so, OC public safety officials want to give police more power to detain young adults who break local law. Will Margate do the same?

Ocean City: Gov Murphy took police tools away in his quest for social justice, bail reform and reducing prison population. A well-intentioned effort at the expense of public safety.

Hundreds of rowdy teens gather on the beaches, boardwalks or other popular hangouts during the summer. Beach towns should designate minor crimes as a “breach of the peace”, anything that disrupts the normal flow of life.

Ocean City is the first. Will other follow?

Ocean City will hold a public hearing and vote at their Jan. 12, 2023 meeting.

Curfew violations:

  • Littering
  • Riding bikes on Boardwalk after hours
  • Excessive noise
  • Graffiti
  • Use of illegal fireworks
  • Juveniles misrepresenting their age.

Teens no longer fear arrest. Emboldened to commit crimes like theft, vandalism, underage public drinking, shop lifting, burglary and smoking marijuana.

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy’s juvenile justice reform made things worse.

Murphy placed heavy restrictions on how police officers can interact with teens. Instead of placing juveniles under arrest, officers hand out ‘curbside warnings’ for underage drinking or marijuana possession.

New Jersey Sen. Vince Polistina, Assembly members Don Guardian and Claire Swift introduced state legislation that would allow police to detain juveniles caught drinking alcohol or using marijuana in public and to notify their parents or legal guardians.

Their proposed legislation says juveniles under the age of 18 would be given a written warning and taken to the police station under “temporary custody” before they are released to their parents or legal guardians.

“Following decriminalization of marijuana and changes to juvenile justice laws, law enforcement officers are being left with unclear direction as to what they can do to combat offenses caused by juveniles in our shore communities”

The proposed law would allow for law enforcement officers to identify and verify age for persons in possession, and or use, of marijuana or alcohol.

The proposed legislation does not require an arrest or citation for underage use but allows for confiscation and notification to a parent or guardian for any individual under 18 years of age.

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