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Seaside Heights enforces boardwalk curfew for minors following chaotic Memorial Day holiday

Despite several incidents over the weekend, Attorney General Matt Platkin stressed that the state’s boardwalks are overwhelmingly safe.

Matt Trapani and Amanda Lee

May 31, 2024, 10:25 AM

Updated 203 days ago

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After incidents involving rowdy crowds at the Jersey Shore over Memorial Day weekend, Attorney General Matt Platkin says the state is now cracking down on law enforcement in addition to a new curfew.
This weekend is off to a more quiet start in Seaside Heights. It's been nearly a week since the curfew has been enforced for those under the age of 18. Visitors say they're not as worried about the regular weekends as they are about holiday weekends when it comes to crowds.
Despite several incidents involving unruly crowds over the weekend, both Gov. Phil Murphy and Platkin have said the boardwalks were generally safe. But Platkin did say the state is ramping up law enforcement.
“I don’t think we had enough law enforcement officers out in Wildwood last weekend. We're working to correct that, and we’ll make sure they have the resources they need to do to keep their boardwalk safe,” Platkin said.
Domenic Maruca, owner of Maruca’s Tomato Pies in Seaside Heights, also told News 12 that for the most part things were fine last weekend.
"We had just a crowd problem. Just a lot of immature kids just acting out and I think the whole thing was overblown but it was handled as well as could be expected. Law enforcement did a great job,” Maruca said.
Authorities say anyone under the age of 18 cannot be out from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Labor Day. They hope it will result in fewer crowds, although most of the arrests that were made last weekend were adults over age 18.
Seaside Heights is one of the busiest boardwalks on the Jersey Shore. Many families, especially those with younger children are still looking forward to visiting and are hoping to enjoy a safe summer.