Parents Face Fines In Point Pleasant Beach If Teens Violate Curfew, Police Say

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — The Point Pleasant Beach Police Department issued a warning on Monday that it will arrest kids who are out without an adult after 10 p.m., and their parents could face a fine of up to $2,000 for not controlling their kids.

The warning, posted on the department's Facebook page, comes as towns up and down the Jersey Shore wrestle with issues of teens roaming their boardwalks and towns late at night causing trouble to varying degrees.

Point Pleasant Beach has a curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for those under 18 that requires them to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, except under specific circumstances.

The department's warning says it will be enforcing the town's ordinances that address unaccompanied juveniles who are out and harassing people.

"The Loitering by Minors ordinance can carry a fine of up to $2,000 to the parents, while the Loitering ordinance can carry a fine of up to $2,000 to the offender or the parent, if the offender is a minor," police said.

The ordinances are as follows:

3-3.5: Loitering by Minors

a. It shall be unlawful for the parent, guardian or other adult person having the care or custody of any minor under the age of 18 years to knowingly permit the minor to loiter in violation of this section.

b. Whenever any minor under the age of 18 years is arrested or taken into custody for violation of this section, the chief of police of the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach, or the superior or regular police officer acting in his place and stead, shall notify the parent, guardian or other person having custody of such minor of such arrest or taking into custody.

c. If it is established that any minor under the age of 18 years shall have violated this section between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., prevailing time, then it shall be presumed, in the absence of proof to the contrary, that the parent, guardian or other adult person having the care or custody of such minor knowingly permitted such minor to do so.

d. If it is established that the parent, guardian or other adult person having the care or custody of any minor under the age of 18 years was duly notified pursuant to paragraph (b) that such minor had been arrested or taken into custody for the violation of this section, and it is further established that such minor subsequently loitered in violation of this section, then it shall be presumed, in the absence of proof to the contrary, that such parent, guardian or other adult person having the care or custody of such minor knowingly permitted such subsequent violation.

3-3.1 Loitering
No person shall loiter in or upon any public street, sidewalk, highway, boardwalk, alley or other public place in the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach.

This shall be defined in 3-3.3 “Loitering” defined:

a. The concepts of standing idly by, spending time idly, loafing or walking about aimlessly without purpose, and shall include the colloquial expression of "hanging around."

b. Obstructing of free unhampered passage of pedestrians or vehicles.

c. Obstructing, molesting or interfering with any person lawfully upon any public street, sidewalk, highway, boardwalk, road, alley or other public place, as defined in this section.
This paragraph shall include the making of unsolicited remarks of any offensive, disgusting or insulting nature, or which are calculated to annoy or disturb the person to or in whose hearing they are made.

d. Loitering in a public place in such manner as to create or cause to be created a breach of peace.

e. Loitering in a public place in such manner as to create or cause to be created any disturbance or annoyance to the comfort and repose of any person.

f. Sitting or standing on railing along the boardwalk.