Cape Cod Town Expands Enhanced Regulations At Popular Beach For July 4

DENNIS, MA — The Dennis Police Department has achieved an interesting point of success: Residents are happy about expanded rules enforcement on the beach.

Last year, Dennis eliminated the sale of daily parking passes at Mayflower, Chapin Memorial and Bayview Beach on July 4. That will carry over into 2025, but the department has also added West Dennis Beach to that list.

"The feedback from residents was overwhelmingly positive, but we heard that you wanted these restrictions expanded to the Southside — and we listened," police officials said.

"In 2025, our July 4 safety measures will be expanded to include West Dennis Beach. And we will even have a second police command post there, providing a constant public safety presence throughout the day."

Only people with a valid resident, seasonal or weekly parking sticker will be allowed to enter those beach lots on the holiday.

This is in large part to disruptive behavior town officials had encountered in the years before 2024 over the July 4 weekend.

"Over the past few years we have seen a dramatic increase in unsafe and dangerous conduct," Police Chief John Brady said.

Cases of fighting, assaults, vandalism, binge drinking, drug use, loud music and "other concerning behavior," tainted the holiday before the adjustments.

In addition to the parking pass changes, police will also enforce a parking ban in the neighborhoods and businesses near the beaches. People in violation of the bans can be ticketed or towed, as was the case in 2024.

The town is also putting in place a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and drug consumption, plus "overly loud music and unsafe behavior," Brady said.

Local police will have a heightened presence in these areas, Brady said, noting that additional resources will also be brought in to police them.

So the real question is: Did the changes work? According to police data, yes.

"As a result, we saw a 75% year-over-year decrease in calls to service at Mayflower Beach, Chapin Memorial Beach, and Bayview Beach — from 459 in 2023 to 115 in 2024," Brady said.

Further, there were zero arrests at all Dennis beaches on July 4 last year compared to 13 the prior year.