Businesses, tourists react to Ocean City curfew for kids under 18, backpack ban
OCEAN CITY, N.J. - Two ordinances aimed at controlling large crowds of young people are now official and enforcement begins this weekend.
Ocean City council members voted Thursday to ban backpacks on the boardwalk between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. The backpack ban applies to everyone, not just young people.
A curfew for kids under 18 has also been adopted.
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The new ordinances stem from unruly teens gathering over Memorial Day weekend.
The beaches are closed starting at 8 p.m. each night, while boardwalk bathrooms close at 10 p.m.
Many Ocean City tourists, like a family from Connecticut, agree with the changes saying they are necessary.
"Let’s keep it a family town. I know it’s a dry town and I think that’s why families come all the way from Connecticut to keep it a family vacation spot," Kyla Allen said.
Some boardwalk businesses wholeheartedly agree.
"I think, first, you know, you’re scared, ‘Oh we’re gonna lose business.’ But, by 11 o’clock, most of our families are leaving the boardwalk and I don’t think it’ll be a big deal," Brent Hanley, with Shirt Shack, explained. "They’re just trying to keep the boardwalk a little cleaner and that’s good for business, too."
Other businesses say the curfew could hurt their bottom line, because, in years past, a lot of kids under 18 bought a lot of food between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.
"Kind of busy at night. Usually they’re walking around and come to eat fries, or whatever," Stephanie de la Cruz, with Frenchy’s, said.
Some other business owners, who did not want to go on camera, say they hope the city might eventually change the curfew to midnight if they see it hurting profits.
On top of the curfew, the ban of backpacks or any bag bigger than eight inches by six by eight also went into effect Friday night, something one family from Allentown understands.
"Safety, I think what we’re looking at is safety for everybody," Grace Kostelnick said. "For families, for children and I think if that’s what you have to do in order to enforce that, then I’m all for it."