Toms River Township is reinstating its curfew on the barrier island communities of North Beach and Ortley Beach for the 2023 summer season, Mayor Mo Hill and Police Chief Mitch Little announced.

The curfew, which applies to juveniles aged 17 and lower, prohibits teens unaccompanied by an adult from being on the streets of the beachfront communities from 10pm -5am beginning on Friday, May 26 and extending through 12:00 am on Tuesday, September 5.

“We don’t want to have a repeat of the incidences we had during previous summer seasons,“ Mayor Hill said. “Last year, before we implemented the curfew, we had a few “pop-up parties” occur with large crowds of young people disturbing the peace in Ortley Beach. We are looking to prevent that from happening again this year.”

“Incidents involving groups of juveniles strained police resources, disrupted businesses, lawful activities and residents and visitors trying to enjoy our beautiful resort area,” said Police Chief Mitch Little who signed the Executive Order creating the curfew in his capacity as the Township’s Emergency Management Coordinator.

The curfew will be enforced in North Beach, the area of the Township north of our border with the Borough of Lavallette and in Ortley Beach.

Exceptions to the curfew are juvenile accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or adult caretaker, those doing errands at the direction of an adult, those traveling two and from their jobs and those involved in activities protected by the 1st amendment.

Violators will be given two warnings to disburse before being detained, at which time their parent, guardian or adult caretaker will be contacted for appropriate actions. Adults, including employers, who allow or encourage juveniles to violate the curfew will be subject to summons and fines pursuant to N.J.S.A. App. A:9-49 and N.J.S.A. App. A:9-50