Over a dozen families, including many from Lakewood, received violations for barbecuing at a park in Howell, TLS has learned.
Families tell TLS while barbecuing at Echo Lake Park on Sunday, they were approached by an officer and ticketed for barbecuing without a permit.
One eyewitness related the following to TLS: “A cop showed up and ticketed everyone because he said there is an ordinance in Howell parks that you may not make a charcoal or wood fire with an open flame. If you want to make a barbecue in a Howell park you may only do it with gas and you have to get a permit. There is a sign about that on a bulletin board in small print at that park. You can only see it if you get out of your car and walk up to it.”
Another park-goer said, “All were law abiding citizens that merely did not know that they changed the law in 2015 to disallow barbecuing in all of Howell parks without a permit. It would seem to have been a targeted decision to suddenly enforce an unknown ordinance on unsuspecting law abiding citizens.”
TLS reached out to Howell Police for comment.
UPDATE: HTPD had the following to say: “The ordinances are usually on the township website (sic) are self explanatory.”
Old news about howel cops …. a lot of them are just not happy pep )not all)I’m been living here for 15 years
It is the responsibility of each person to know the rules and regulations of whatever town you are visiting. Never assume, ask first.
Curious says.
Your are a dumb (moderated) The cops should only give a warning not a ticket.
I guess you like to be miserable.
Very nice. Disagree with someone’s comment and automatically resort to name calling. Really classy.
Ignorance of the law is never an excuse no matter how stupid the law is or how the law has previously been enforced. This law has been on the books for two years, it shouldn’t be a surprise.
The “ignorance of the law is not an excuse” line is nothing more than a deflection. It is the duty of the authorities to clearly post and educate locals AND visitors regarding changes pertaining to laws which clearly are not linked to norms/common sense (charcoal Vs. gas?!?!?!).
This is just another example of big government entrapment for revenue. These people should have been given a warning and a large, easily readable sign placed at the area.
I was grilling in Brick and the cops came and said they were going to start giving tickets even though there’s no clear sign. Wonder if they’re all coordinating…
Ignorance of the law is never an excuse.
Most parks don’t allow gas. Only charcoal so they figure mix it up a little and earn some revenue from the unsuspecting Lakewood people.
The only reason a town bother to make such an ordinance is to make it’s citizens crazy and to raise revenue. It’s not like the Howell committee actually hired a consulting firm to figure out which is more dangerous- propane or charcoal. And how much would the danger be mitigated by forcing people to get a permit.
Folks, this is Big Government at it’s worst.
I was in wyndward park in Brick on sunday and have bbq there almost every sunday this summer. There are signs that say no propane grills and grills in gazebo. We bbq with charcoal on an outdoor picnic table. Cop came around and told me BRICK passed new ordinance THREE days ago prohibiting any BBQ in any of their parks (propane and coal) .I asked him what happened he said he doesnt know. I asked him if I could get a permit and he said yes but smiled and said “Have fun getting one”. He was nice and respectful but made everyone shut it down right away( There are now signs prohibiting bbq) I spoke to maintenace guy and he said it just happened and he doesnt know why. I asked him if there were messes left and maybe thats why and he said NO. My gut felling , they dont want lakewod people in brick or howell parks. Pity bc Windward is a great place
There are NO signs anywhere prohibiting grilling
We were also grilling there a couple of weeks ago, and forced to turn it off by a police officer. He showed us where the sign was, and we read it. It had tiny wording but it was there. They don’t want us in their parks! They want us to stick to Lakewood!
Such a small non violent infraction should call for a warning – at least for first time offense. Especially if law was just “recently” changed.
Could they issue tickets? Obviously, yes.
However, this is totally uncalled for. unless the officer feels that this falls under his duty to “protect and serve”.
I wonder how Howell residence feel about officers spending their time on this.
I think residents in these towns are probably ok with bbq ordinances, requiring permits & ticketing for violations which may help offset the portion of their property taxes that go to maintaining and policing the parks. Everyone is complaining about property taxes, so towns need to find alternative ways to fund amenities and services and user based fees are a reasonable alternative.
Anyone know how much the permit will be?
this is a new ordinance which is meant to curb certain unwanted people from a neighboring township . as of last Sunday on the NJ parks website under Echo Lake BBQ was permitted .. the actual ordinance as printed on sign is You have get permit to use Pavilion in order to BBQ. That would keep them from giving permits to private people (from certain townships) to BBQ. There is an elderly women walking around with binoculars and a camera (with her paddle boat) making it her life mission to keep away the unwanted . She calls the police and complains, They hae no choice but to respond
Echo Lake Pavilion (can be reserved for special occassions), Echo Lake (for fishing and kayaking only – no swimming or motorized boats!), a floating dock, play structure (ages 5 – 12), bathroom facilities and a nature trail. In addition to, the park has a gazebo overlooking the lake and several benches, grills and picnic tables throughout.
Just wondering after Saturdays shooting 6 cops across the USA would they have enforced the ordinance on other crowds as well? Or just on people that behave?
http://ecode360.com/29201086
Use of charcoal and wood-burning grills is strictly prohibited in all public parks within the township of Howell. However, use of propane gas grills shall be permitted provided that the necessary permit is issued from the Howell Township Fire Bureau. The permit fee is identified in Chapter 139. All users must also have the necessary approval for use of the field (by lease or permit) prior to issuance of the Howell Township Fire Bureau permit.
[Added 4-6-2015 by Ord. No. 0-15-14]
Someone should try applying for a permit…i wonder what their excuse to deny the permit would be
@Ignorance is not an excuse… Should the township also post every municipal and state law, rule and regulation on every road entering Howell? Should officials knock on every door in all the surrounding communities to notify everyone of code changes every time a new code is implemented? The new ordinance was adopted in 2015 — two years ago — and was available on the website and posted at the park.
Sometimes people need to accept the consequences of their actions instead of acting like the rules don’t apply because it is an inconvenience or annoyance.
Follow the rules of the surrounding towns. Check on their websites. People there are rules and regulations follow them.poluce officer are there to enforce the laws and ordinances. Deal with it!!!!!!
Monmouth county only lets charcoal grills
We are not wanted in Howell. Therefore we shouldn’t go there. Lakewood has beautiful parks. Just stay where you are wanted
http://www.twp.howell.nj.us/facilities/facility/details/Alfred-C-Sauer-Park-at-Echo-Lake-2
Yes if you know the ordinance you can find it online but when you look for a park there is nothing saying you can’t grill. Also the site says picnic and grills around the park
Its unfortunate to see our civil servants enforcing a park regulation during the summer when family’s of all ethnicities enjoy the free parks of our county. A simple warning would have done the job,it doesnt have to be a written summons with a fine. I will remember this unjust enforcement when the pba starts collecting. These days we need more unity not devising. SMH
#1 HTPD is an Amazing organization. #2 They don’t make the laws, they just enforce them. #3 If you dont like the rule we live in America, You are free to go somewhere else. Remember you are a guest in the parks. We all pay taxes to have said parks. I’ve seen the sign it is NOT small print. So again, if you dont like the rules, simply go somewhere else, or try to change the law. Unless you are not a resident who can either run for office, and/or petition the council. Then again YOU, are a GUEST. Follow the law.
This is the Park website it actually says they are grills in the park and it makes no mention of only grilling with a permit
http://www.twp.howell.nj.us/facilities/facility/details/Alfred-C-Sauer-Park-at-Echo-Lake-2
There are charcoal fired grills on site
uh..no. grills were removed to prevent people from grilling, so there are no grills at all—except for the illegal ones that are lit on top of the tables.
You canot get a permit to grill unless you rent pavillion for $400
Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Read up on where you are going before you go.
@susan
So you’re saying that you’re ok with getting a ticket going 66 miles in 65 zone? Sometimess the right thing is to give a warning
Permits for this, permits for that, all the while they’re stealing our freedoms. Do the people of Howell really think that bbq-ing should be prohibited or is this simply a scheme aimed at some sort of group “cleansing”?
In the article one person says you have to get out of your car to read sign, do you BBQ in your car?? Town laws do not have to be posted. You can’t put up a sign for every law, the person must be aware.
I heard from a friend, that mantoloking police also were issuing summons to frum families for kids stepping on the sand dunes. I wonder if non frum beach goer’s got them too.
Regardig the sand dunes along the ocean coast — no one is supposed to walk on them. They are there for protection from another storm like Sandy or the average nor’easter. Please look at the landscape where the struggle still goes on to recover from Sandy and familiarize yourselves with environmental regulations before leaping to conclusions.
I live in Howell, we are subjected to the same rules as the people from other towns. I don’t understand why people are complaining. Even to set up a softball game you have to get permission. The rules are for everyone!
I guess we’ll have to stick with tuna fish sandwiches.
Obviously it’s all about the money went to court today for it and was charged $89 only if I pleaded guilty they wouldn’t accept a not-guilty all they want is guilty and as much money as they can get