PHOTOS: People Flood OC Beaches During Warm Weekend

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Law enforcement officers patrolling reopened and closed beaches in Los Angeles and Orange counties were educating rather than citing people who tried to escape the heat at the local shores, authorities said Sunday.

In Orange County, many beaches were reopened but most of the parking lots remained closed due to COVID-19.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department reported no citations were issued.

Newport Beach was reopened and officers were trying to remind visitors about the need for social distancing. Parking lots were closed early Saturday but some were opened because of street parking issues, officials said.

Laguna Beach remained closed and the watch commander said people were cooperating when reminded they should not be there.

All Los Angeles County beaches remained closed and cities within the county followed suit. Deputies from the Malibu Sheriff's Station preferred to educate beachgoers about the continuing closure due to the coronavirus outbreak, and issued only a few citations to those who would not leave the beach or parks, according to the watch sergeant.

There is "definitely the threat" of citations at other closed county beaches, according to Deputy Tracy Koerner of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

Redondo Beach police have not cited people who visit closed beaches although "we would like to," Sgt. B. Weiss said. The ocean was especially attractive in the darkness due to a red tide caused by algae blooms that appeared to light up the water, he said.

Hermosa Beach police said they have not issued citations and that security guards were helping shoo visitors away from the beach.

And Manhattan Beach police reported issuing some citations to people who refused to leave the beach. The watch commander could not cite specific numbers but said they were busy.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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