Cape Cod Towns Upping July 4 Beach Patrols After Unruly 2023

FALMOUTH, MA — In 2023, Falmouth police said the town's beaches "were left an utter disaster" after the July 4 weekend.

That won't be the case in 2024.

This week, Falmouth police officials announced that, in response to 2023, they will be upping patrols at all town beaches.

Plainclothes officers will be out at beaches all week with a "heavy" uniformed police" presence at select times.

Police also announced they'll be implementing a zero-tolerance policy regarding public consumption of alcohol and marijuana on town beaches, which means all coolers and bags are subject to searches.

In 2023, Falmouth police said they dealt with large groups of teenagers who gathered on local beaches and behaved in a "disrespectful and rude" manner. There was also "widespread evidence" of underage drinking, police said.

Fireworks — illegal in Massachusetts — were being shot both in the air and at other people, and beaches "were left an utter disaster with litter, alcohol containers and broken glass, which took the Falmouth DPW hours to clean up," police added.

In addition to the unruly behavior on beaches, police also explained a few individual incidents.
"A resident of North Falmouth had a can of beer thrown through the front window of their house, shattering the window and nearly missing a person inside the home," police said of one.

"A group of teens climbed up and trespassed onto the balcony of a Falmouth Heights condominium, right outside the bedroom of a sleeping child. They were promptly asked to leave by an adult resident," officials said of another.

Police said some groups behaved respectfully and followed police direction, "but the majority were uncooperative and presenting a public nuisance."

Read more: Unruly Teenagers A Problem For Falmouth Police During July 4 Weekend

Falmouth isn't the only Cape Cod community to up patrols and tighten enforcement of beach restrictions for the holiday.

Dennis will eliminate the sale of daily parking passes at Mayflower, Chapin Memorial and Bayview Beach on July 4.

Only people with a valid 2024 resident, seasonal or weekly parking sticker will be allowed to enter those beach lots on the holiday.

This is in large part to disruptive behavior town officials have encountered over the last few years over the July 4 weekend.

"Over the past few years we have seen a dramatic increase in unsafe and dangerous conduct," Brady said.

He noted that, over the past few July 4 holidays, officials have seen cases of fighting, assaults, vandalism, binge drinking, drug use, loud music and "other concerning behavior."

In addition to the parking pass adjustments, police will also enforce a parking ban in the neighborhoods and businesses near the beaches. People in violation of the bans can be ticketed or towed.

The town is also putting in place a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and drug consumption, plus "overly loud music and unsafe behavior," Brady said.

Local police will have a heightened presence in these areas, Brady said, noting that additional resources will also be brought in to police them.

Read more: Cape Cod Police Chief Hopes To Curb July 4 Debauchery With New Beach Policy