Teen Curfew Implemented At Another Jersey Shore Town

WILDWOOD, NJ — Yet another shore town has taken steps to handle a growing problem of disorderly teenage behavior at the beach this summer. Wildwood approved a new teenage curfew at a meeting Wednesday.

Large groups of teenagers gathering at any of the Jersey Shore's beaches and boardwalks has been an issue for the past several years and has only gotten worse. Many times, these gatherings involve underage drinking, vandalism and more.

Ocean City recently implemented a curfew along with a number of new regulations after thousands of teens descended upon the beach this past Memorial Day Weekend. Read more: New Restrictions Now In Effect At Ocean City Beaches

Wildwood suffered a similar issue over the Fourth of July weekend though not on the same scale, with one incident where 60 teens gathered and engaged in "widespread acts of rioting and criminal mischief in and around the Boardwalk in the early morning hours," officials said.

Officials in shore towns have stressed that allowing these large gatherings is dangerous to others trying to enjoy the beach, first responders and to the teens themselves.

Now in Wildwood, the curfew for those under 18 has been moved up from 1 a.m. to midnight. It goes until 6 a.m.

The hour change is "being proactive," Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron told Fox 29 Philadelphia. But going any further than midnight would harm local businesses, he told the outlet.

The new rules also designate a group of 10 or more teens as a breach of peace.