Margate police say they will start fining parents for their teen's behavior

MARGATE, NJ — The warning has gone out in Margate about rowdy teens. But this warning is for parents: you are the one who will now receive a ticket.

Police in Margate, New Jersey, announced they will begin enforcing an existing ordinance that allows them to summon parents of minors observed unsupervised after the 10 p.m. curfew or in violation of local laws.

Tickets will require an appearance in municipal court and could result in fines of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days of community service, which may have to be completed alongside your child.

“After recent high-profile events regarding juvenile safety in our coastal communities, the Margate City Police Department is taking a more proactive approach,” the police department said in a Facebook post.

The problem of large groups of unsupervised teenagers has disrupted coastal towns during holiday weekends and other towns in Pennsylvania and New Jersey during planned local festivals.

Coastal cities, including, most recently, Wildwood, have imposed backpack bans and curfews. Over Memorial Day weekend, which saw a stabbing on the Ocean City boardwalk and general unruliness in Seaside Heights and other coastal towns, Wildwood made the decision to declare a state of emergency to clean your walk overnight.

Some cities have canceled carnivals and festivals, and police chiefs in coastal cities have expressed the need for tougher laws, including those that hold parents accountable.

» LEARN MORE: Unruly teenagers disrupt festivals and carnivals, leading to cancellations

But the Margate Ordinance, 117-4, is already on the books.

In recent years, large crowds of teenagers on Margate's beaches and outside its infamous 'Club Wa' Wawa have attracted public attention; This summer, Margate has gone somewhat under the radar. Margate Police said their aim was to “prevent some of the problems faced by coastal towns this summer”.

“In the past, MCPD has been able to keep an eye on crowds through increased staffing and additional patrols, but like cities along the coast, we are being pushed to our limits and with recent incidents high-profile, we ask. parents be responsible for the actions of their minor and unsupervised children,” police wrote.

The application of Ordinance 117-4 (Parental Responsibility) will take place between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., “each time officers observe a minor without supervision and engage in illegal behavior, endangers their safety or if he ignores lawful orders from officers attempting to ensure their safety.

Minors will be taken to the police station, and a “responsible adult” will be called to take custody of the child, and a summons will be issued to the parent, police said.

The child could also be charged with any underlying offense that prompted the police intervention.

A first offense results in a fine between $100 and $1,000 and/or up to 90 days of community service, to be determined by the Municipal Court judge. Second and subsequent offenses are punishable by fines not exceeding $1,000 and/or 90 days of community service.

“If a minor and his or her parents or guardians violate this chapter, they may be required to perform community service together,” the order states.

“We, along with other police agencies and state officials, have asked parents to better supervise their children over the past several years,” Margate police wrote. “To date, these appeals have had limited to no success, leading us to take this action to ensure the safety of community members. »

Neither Police Chief Matthew Hankinson, Mayor Michael Collins nor Public Safety Commissioner Catherine Horn responded to calls for comment and additional information.