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North Wildwood is set to implement a summer curfew for individuals under 18, with potential fines for parents who knowingly allow their children to violate the curfew. The curfew, which is expected to be approved at a city council meeting on May 7, will begin on May 15 and last through nearly the entire summer before being pushed back to 11 p.m. on September 16. The curfew will temporarily revert to 10 p.m. for the days surrounding Halloween.
The curfew prohibits minors from being in public places or businesses without a parent or guardian between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Exceptions are made for teens attending work, organized events, or recreational activities under adult supervision. Parents may also send their children on errands at night, provided they return home promptly.
Parents who allow their children to break curfew can be fined. The first violation results in a fine of $250 to $500. A second violation within a year can incur a fine of $500 to $1,000. A third or subsequent violation within the same timeframe carries a fine of $1,000 to $1,500.
North Wildwood joins other Jersey Shore towns such as Ocean City, Sea Isle City, and Wildwood in enforcing teen curfews to curb late-night behavior that can escalate to rowdiness and underage drinking, and at its worst, assault, shoplifting, or vandalism.