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The city council of North Wildwood has passed an ordinance establishing a curfew for teenagers under the age of 18. The curfew, which is in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., comes in response to several violent incidents that occurred last summer. The ordinance also holds parents accountable for any unaccompanied juveniles on the streets during curfew hours.
The final vote on the ordinance was passed by city officials on Tuesday (October 29). According to 6abc.com, the curfew is intended to ensure safety in public areas, reduce juvenile crime, and strengthen parental responsibility. The ordinance states that the curfew aims to promote the safety and well-being of young people, who are particularly vulnerable to becoming involved in unlawful activities and being victimized by older perpetrators of crime.
Under the new law, unaccompanied minors are permitted to be in public places during curfew hours under certain circumstances, such as being engaged in or traveling from business and activities authorized by New Jersey law, being on a parent-directed errand without any detours or stops, attending a recreational activity supervised by adults, or in case of an emergency. Minors in violation of the curfew will receive at least two warnings before police will take them to the station to discuss the violation alongside their parents. Parents, guardians, and caretakers that knowingly allow minors to break curfew will be subjected to fines starting at $250.
PhillyVoice reports that North Wildwood is the latest shore town to adopt a curfew. Last year, neighboring Wildwood moved up its curfew to midnight, banned alcohol on the beach and boardwalk, and designated underage drinking as a "breach of peace" violation. Ocean City enacted an 11 p.m. curfew for minors and a backpack ban on the boardwalk after 8 p.m. And Sea Isle City now has a 10 p.m. curfew for minors and has restricted the use of backpacks on the promenade.