Should offensive T-shirts be banned from the boardwalk?

Wildwood, NJ (WTXF) - It happens every year controversy over what's printed on T-shirts on the Wildwood Boardwalk. Should certain T-shirts be banned on the boards?

"I've seen so many comment that this is a Wildwood staple." Stacey Pelle was floored. The Wildwood mother was taking a walk for ice cream on the boardwalk when she heard the words.

"She says to me, 'Mommy what's Percocet?'? Her 9-year-old daughter saw a T-shirt for sale at the Flip Flop Gift Shop near Wildwood Avenue. It says 'Percocet and Molly' and senior week on the bottom with pictures of pills.

"Something that only seeks to glorify something that's killing our kids every day," Pelle said.

FOX 29's Chris O'Connell went to the boardwalk to ask the store owner about the offensive shirt.

"Do you think with an opioid epidemic right now this is a good idea," O'Connell asked. He replied, "I'm telling you I'm not responsible."

Just as salt water taffy and hermit crabs, offensive T-shirts have become a boardwalk staple.

Within hours of being posted on social media. The store got the point and the shirts were taken down.

City officials say they as much as they'd like they can't ban bad taste because it's a free speech issue. But have come up with an agreement for store owners to keep their racy shirts in the back of the store.

"I can't storm troop the store and make them take their product down. We have to cooperate and we've developed a relationship and that's what it's all about getting Wildwood back to a family resort again," Director of License and Inspections John Davis said.

The owner of the store reached out to FOX 29 and told us the employee who put up the shirts has been suspended. He said it shouldn't have happened and will never happen again. We are also told city inspectors met with store owners Monday evening making sure offensive shirts stay in the back of the store.