Unruly Teens, Lack of Parenting Spark Wildwood's State of Emergency

Over Memorial Day weekend, New Jersey beach towns witnessed a surge in unruly behavior by unsupervised teenagers, prompting a state of emergency in Wildwood and calls for stricter penalties and parental accountability. Mayors are pressing the state to reconsider its recent push to decriminalize marijuana use, which they believe has emboldened teens to commit crimes.

The tranquil atmosphere of New Jersey's beach towns was shattered over Memorial Day weekend by a surge in unruly behavior by unsupervised teenagers, leading to a state of emergency declaration in Wildwood and urgent calls from mayors for stricter penalties and parental accountability.

The mayhem unfolded across several popular summer destinations, including Wildwood, Seaside Heights, and Ocean City. In Wildwood, a massive influx of teenagers without adult supervision overwhelmed police, prompting Mayor Tony Troiano Jr. to declare a state of emergency early Monday morning.

"We will not tolerate unruly, undisciplined, unparented children, nor will we stand by while the laws of the state tie the hands of the police," Troiano declared.

In Seaside Heights, Mayor Anthony Vaz imposed a summer-long curfew for juveniles and a ban on house rentals without an adult present. He witnessed firsthand the brazen disregard for authority among misbehaving minors.

"They don't believe in authority. They believe in entitlement," Vaz lamented.

Ocean City Police also made multiple arrests, swiftly restoring order on the boardwalk. Mayor Jay Gillian condemned the unacceptable behavior and vowed not to tolerate it.

The mayors have attributed much of the trouble to lax parenting, but they also point to a recent state law that decriminalized marijuana use as a contributing factor. They believe it has emboldened teenagers to engage in risky behavior without fear of consequences.

"There is no respect for law enforcement," Vaz emphasized.

The uncontrolled gatherings of unsupervised teenagers have not only disrupted the peace but also posed a safety hazard. In Seaside Heights, a false alarm about an active shooter sent throngs of teens running in panic off the boardwalk.

Betsy Branter Smith, a former police sergeant and spokesperson for the National Police Association, stressed that ineffective parenting and soft-on-crime policies have exacerbated the problem.

"This ultimately goes back to parenting," Smith said. "But you can't legislate that. The business owners and the tourists are the ones who are gonna pay."

She cited successful zero-tolerance policies implemented in other cities, such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale, as potential solutions.

The Jersey Shore mayors are now lobbying the state to strengthen penalties for juvenile offenders and to give police greater authority to enforce the law. They are hoping for a positive response from the governor.

"For the governor to call you direct, apparently, we hit the right nerve," Troiano said. "But it's all about safety and to make sure that our businesses thrive during the summer."