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New rules in Ocean City focused on teen behavior go into effect immediately

Beach and bathroom closures, backpack bans for everyone and earlier curfew for teens in Ocean City.

Ocean City Police officers close off beach access during the 8 pm beach curfew on June 3. Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian called for an emergency city council meeting on Thursday to discuss ordinances that will close the beach and ban backpacks (with some exceptions) on the boardwalk for all ages starting at 8 p.m., close public bathrooms at 10 p.m., and move up the underage curfew from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. — all measures aimed at limiting the ability of teens to congregate late at night.
Ocean City Police officers close off beach access during the 8 pm beach curfew on June 3. Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian called for an emergency city council meeting on Thursday to discuss ordinances that will close the beach and ban backpacks (with some exceptions) on the boardwalk for all ages starting at 8 p.m., close public bathrooms at 10 p.m., and move up the underage curfew from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. — all measures aimed at limiting the ability of teens to congregate late at night.Read moreYong Kim / Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

Say goodbye to that nighttime stroll along the Ocean City boardwalk with your backpack, because new rules are in effect in the Shore town.

Following a series of incidents over Memorial Day weekend involving teenagers gathering at night, drinking, damaging property, and shoplifting, Ocean City’s local leadership responded with new rules that will see beaches and bathrooms closed earlier, backpacks banned from the boardwalk at 8 p.m., and the curfew for those under 18 moved up from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m.

On June 1, Ocean City Council introduced these new rules as laws during a special meeting called by Mayor Jay Gillian after Memorial Day weekend. On Thursday, the council unanimously voted to approve the new regulations and put the nighttime rules on backpacks and curfews for teens into effect immediately during a special meeting that took less than eight minutes.

Starting at 8 p.m., backpacks larger than 8 inches by 6 inches by 8 inches will be banned from the boardwalk. At 11 p.m., it will be against the law for underage people to be out in public unchaperoned. Beaches were closed at 8 pm. to the public two weeks ago, with physical barricades placed at various entrances to the beach. The 10 p.m. bathroom closures also began two weeks ago.

Local business owners and residents who spoke with The Inquirer earlier this month shared mixed opinions on the new laws: Some feel they could hamper business along the boardwalk, while others want harsher punishments for teens. What most agree upon in Ocean City is that something has to be done about teen behavior in town.