As Memorial Day Nears, Seaside Heights Works To Prevent Repeat Of 2025 Chaos

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ — Curfews. Boardwalk closing times. Multiple law enforcement agencies.

As Memorial Day weekend rapidly approaches, Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz says the borough is gearing up to prevent a repeat of the chaos that led to dozens of arrests as thousands of people, primarily youngsters, flooded the borough in 2025.

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"We have a good contingency of law enforcement ready to help us," Vaz said Monday morning. "The county sheriff, the prosecutor's office, state police. We've even been in contact with the FBI."

The borough has even asked New Jersey State Police about the possibility of providing officers on horseback, Vaz said.

"We're still waiting to hear back," he said.

The borough isn't simply relying on an increased law enforcement presence to manage crowds and discourage bad behavior, however.

Last year, an estimated 100,000 people poured into the borough for the holiday weekend, and there were more than 80 arrests of adults and juveniles, business administrator Christopher Vaz said. Of the 63 adult arrests, 41 were people ages 18 to 20, he said at the time.

The events of Memorial Day weekend 2025 far exceeded the worst expectations of everyone involved: Three stabbings, more than 70 arrests, multiple fights and general chaos as thousands of people filled the town. Police Chief Thomas Boyd to shut down the boardwalk early on that Memorial Day Monday to try to stop the problems.

In the wake of it, the Seaside Heights Borough Council approved closing hours for the boardwalk. Under the ordinance, the boardwalk will close at 1 a.m. on federal holidays, including Memorial Day. From Sundays through Thursdays, the boardwalk will close at midnight. It closes at 1 a.m. on Friday nights and Saturday nights.

The boardwalk opens at 6 a.m. daily.

The borough also amended its "Boardwalks and Beaches" ordinance to ban backpacks, cinch bags, coolers, briefcases, or similar bags that are more than 8 inches by 6 inches by 8 inches deep, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. with limited exceptions, including diaper bags and medical equipment.

Anthony Vaz said borough officials have worked with local businesses to address the problems because "they don't want this trouble either."

As Memorial Day weekend falls in the heart of prom season, the borough also updated its ordinances, increasing fines for violations of rules on renting rooms or summer rentals to anyone under age 21, maximum occupancy and for disorderly persons offenses.

Last Memorial Day weekend the police department received 887 calls to 911, 747 calls for service, conducted 151 motor vehicle stops, received 81 calls regarding disturbances or fights, responded to 10 motor vehicle crashes, and 46 parking complaints. In addition to four stabbings, there were two sexual assaults reported, Christopher Vaz said.

Code enforcement issued 98 summonses for violations of the short-term rental regulations, 89 for not keeping proper registration and property maintenance, 14 for overcrowding, 14 for renting without a certificate of occupancy, 10 for renting without a mercantile license, and 7 for causing an unreasonable disturbance, Anthony Vaz said at the time.

The borough also has an ordinance that requires anyone under age 18 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian after 10 p.m., with limited exceptions.

Officials also hope a state law signed last summer by Gov. Phil Murphy that makes it a crime to incite a public brawl will help as well because it can be used to punish those using social media to create the pop-up parties and similar events that have led to chaos in towns up and down the state. The law includes fines of $1,000 to $10,000 and sentences of up to 18 months in prison.

Even with all the ordinance changes and plans for the law enforcement presence, Anthony Vaz said there are two big challenges the borough faces. First is the unknown factor of how many people will come to the borough for the weekend.

The second issue — one that affects towns all over New Jersey that have faced chaotic weekends and incidents over the last five years — is a change in attitudes among those coming.

"They’re not frightened of authority," Anthony Vaz said, especially kids under 18.

Anthony Vaz said kids have had no qualms telling authorities that they couldn't be punished because they were minors.

Seaside Heights Police Sgt. Eric Hershey, at the council meeting in June 2025 when the ordinances were introduced, said the kids under 18 had no problem disrespecting police officers and even their own parents.

"If I had talked to my mom that way, she would have kicked my head off," he said at the time.

If issues arise this year, "We will close the boardwalk down and disperse the people," Anthony Vaz said.

Kids who do not listen when police tell them to disperse will be brought into the police station.

"And if you do something bad enough, we’ll call your parents and hold them accountable" with summonses and fines, he said.

Seaside Heights did just that last year, issuing summonses to parents whose kids violated the 10 p.m. curfew when the parents picked the kids up at police headquarters.

"We have worked hard in the last 10 years to change things and make this a town where people want to bring their families," Anthony Vaz said.

"We are not going to let rowdy people take over," Councilman Rich Tompkins said.