SEA ISLE CITY – At the March 28 Sea Isle City Council meeting, two ordinances were adopted that are intended to give police more latitude in dealing with rowdy juvenile behavior.
Sea Isle, along with many of the state’s shore towns, has been plagued with juvenile misbehavior for the last two summers. Many local officials have publicly blamed Trenton, saying that Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Legislature have gone too far with juvenile justice reform directives that have handcuffed police.
With state law and attorney general directives limiting how police can intercede and deal with destructive or intimidating juvenile behavior, the ordinances are extra “tools” for officers to use if circumstances require.
One ordinance prohibits backpacks on the city’s promenade, beaches, and beach street-ends after 10 p.m. during the summer season.
Numerous complaints from residents and visitors have focused on the use of backpacks to transport alcohol by underage drinkers.
The second ordinance established a 10 p.m. curfew during the summer season for those under 18.
Mayor Leonard Desiderio said that the ordinance contains several common-sense exceptions that permit minors to be out during the curfew period. Curfews of this sort have been legally challenged in the past. Desiderio told the audience at the council meeting that “our city solicitor has researched the constitutionality of these ordinances.”
An inability to get changes in the law or the guidelines from Trenton has frustrated many local officials who have been left to struggle with the problems of juvenile misbehavior.
As the ordinances were adopted, Desiderio said, “We’ve talked about this enough.”
Sea Isle joins with other shore towns who have crafted similar local ordinances.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
