Court Says Belmar Unfairly Hiked Beach, Parking Fees

An appellate court ruled that Belmar unfairly hiked beach and parking fees, according to a decision delivered this week.

The decision says that charging unreasonable beach fees is a "violation" that "constitutes the deprivation of a substantive civil right under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act."

The ruling says the borough should not have raised beach fees to raise money for litigation settlements and to replenish Belmar's general fund.

The court ruled that "there is also substantial credible evidence to support the judge's finding

that the 100 percent increase in the hourly parking fee, from $1 to $2 per hour, was not imposed to pay for permissible beach-related costs."

Instead, it was "aimed at increasing the borough's general revenues to avoid raising taxes on its residents.

Read more of the decision here.