Council Considers Lifting Beach Curfew in Ocean City, NJ

by KYW's David Madden

City council in Ocean City, New Jersey was scheduled to vote on Thursday evening on an ordinance that will lift a 10pm to 6am summer curfew on the beach.

Since state and federal dollars are used for beach replenishment, the state wants the beach open 24/7, which is fine with the cops here. Lieutenant Steven Ang:

"We patrol the beaches 24 hours a day in the summertime. The ordinance that we had in effect was only for the months of June, July, and August."

Beach goers are mixed on the issue. Some say lifting the curfew will just invite trouble. Nancy Fitzpatrick of Washington Township, Gloucester County isn’t among them:

"If I had somebody to watch the kids at night."

(Madden): "It would be nice to go out with hubby and take a walk, yeah?"

"To a certain extent, it should be opened."

The measure is expected to pass and police are prepared to beef up those beach patrols.