Montauk Project Protesters Issued Maximum Fine For Disorderly Conduct

MONTAUK, NY - A total of 13 people who were arrested for disorderly conduct after protesting the Army Crops of Engineers beach stabilization project in Montauk all pleaded guilty in East Hampton Town Justice Court last week.

All were arrested within the past few weeks after the protests began last month. In total, 16 people were arrested.

They were each issued the maximum fine for the violation - $250, according to a report in 27east.

Attorney Carl Irace, who represented all but one of the protesters in court last Wednesday, told 27east that “his clients’ actions were a matter of principle for which they willing acknowledged their guilt, but was nonetheless disappointed that the judge issued the maximum fine for the charges,” according to the report.

The project, conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, involves burying a total of 14,000 large sandbags along 3,100 feet of Montauk beach to make artificial dunes over 15 feet high.

The project costs a total of $8.4 million and was started in order to protect downtown Montauk after Superstorm Sandy hit the area back in 2012.

Opponents of the project have said that the project will destroy the natural dunes and ruin the look of the beach.

Despite the opposition, the East Hampton Town Board announced that the project will continue.