Wildwood extends underage curfew to be ‘proactive’ against potential teen gatherings
Starting August 2, people under 18 will not be allowed out in public past midnight in Wildwood, New Jersey.
The trend of nightly curfews in Jersey Shore towns this summer has gotten stricter as Wildwood extended its curfew for teens. But this time, it’s in case of potential misbehavior instead of a response to disruptive gatherings as in Ocean City.
“We’re just being proactive based on some of the activity here and what the other shore towns have experienced,” said Wildwood Mayor Peter Byron. “A lot of laws are initiated based on a negative experience, but we’re trying to get ahead of that and really it’s only moving the established curfew from 1 a.m. to midnight. Young people, unless they’re coming home from work or something like that, really shouldn’t be out past that time anyway.”
Wildwood’s three City Commissioners voted and passed the ordinance Wednesday evening with only one resident in attendance, who didn’t provide public comment. Typically, these ordinances take more time to enact into law, but the mayor is implementing the one-hour-earlier curfew as an emergency ordinance to allow for it to be enacted soon after the meeting. According to Byron, the curfew will go into effect on Aug. 2 as the ordinance has to be announced and published in Wildwood’s local paper before it’s rolled out.
Starting Aug. 2, a curfew between midnight and 6 a.m. will go into effect, making it unlawful for anyone under 18 years old to be out in public places without a parent or guardian. The curfew will be in place for the foreseeable future with the city reviewing or amending the policy as needed, said Byron.
According to the Wildwood mayor, the Fourth of July weekend brought some crowds of teens congregating on and near the boardwalk, sometimes shoplifting from local stores. However, Byron said it’s nothing compared to the more than 3,000 to 5,000 teens seen over Memorial Day weekend in Ocean City.
Wildwood is among the Jersey Shore’s most popular destinations known for its family-friendly boardwalk, amusement piers, and lively nightlife.
“Wildwood, for anyone who’s ever experienced it, is a happy place,” Byron said. “You can’t come to Wildwood and leave without a smile on your face.”