At a Glance
- New laws fine parents $1,000 when teen mischief turns into property damage
- Adults who ignore supervising kids that spark public brawls can now be charged with disorderly conduct
- Police in towns hit by repeat pop-up parties must complete new crowd-control training
- Why it matters: Officials say violent flash mobs scare tourists and drain shore-town businesses
New Jersey is putting more pressure on parents to curb teen mayhem that has rattled beach towns and other communities in recent years.
Gov. Phil Murphy signed two bills this week that expand the state’s push against disruptive and sometimes violent gatherings. The measures target both the adults who police say look the other way and the officers who respond when spontaneous parties erupt.
Parents Face Cash Penalties and Charges
One law makes it easier to punish parents and guardians who fail to keep tabs on their kids. If teens under their care trigger a public brawl, the adults can be charged with a disorderly persons offense. The same law tacks on a $1,000 fine if the teens’ actions damage property.
Ocean City resident Madelyn Adamson, who has watched the problem grow, supports the crackdown. “Making sure the parents kind of control their kids a little more is probably the way to go,” she said.
The statute applies only when adults have shown “neglect or disregard” for supervising minors, according to the text signed by Murphy.
New Training Mandate for Shore Police
A second measure orders the state Attorney General to design a crowd-management course for police departments. Only agencies that have dealt with more than one pop-up party or flash mob in the past year must complete the training.
Officials hope better planning will prevent scenes like the Memorial Day weekend brawls that drew headlines and viral videos.
Tourism Dollars at Stake
While lawmakers framed the bills as public-safety tools, they also highlighted the economic fallout. Shore towns rely on a steady flow of summer visitors, and bad publicity can empty boardwalks and hotels.
NJ Senator Paul Moriarty warned that a single violent incident can ripple through the local economy. “A Memorial Day weekend public brawl that’s all over the news? People don’t want to come down the shore the next weekend and that hurts all kinds of small business, large business,” he said.
Key Takeaways
- Parents who ignore teen gatherings that turn violent can now face criminal charges and a $1,000 fine
- Police in flash-mob hotspots must undergo state-designed crowd-control training
- Officials say the laws protect both public safety and the tourism economy that fuels Jersey Shore towns
