New Jersey Shore towns impose curfews and ban pop‑up parties ahead of Memorial Day

Long Branch authorities issued an emergency 8 p.m. curfew at the Pier Village waterfront after video showed hundreds of teenagers gathering in the area. Police used riot shields and warned the crowd that arrests would follow any refusal to disperse, clearing the site by about 9:15 p.m. The curfew was described as a response to an “imminent threat.”

In neighboring shore municipalities, Wildwood police served cease‑and‑desist orders to stop two unauthorized pop‑up parties, instituted a 10 p.m. curfew for all ages, closed the boardwalk at 1 a.m., and banned backpacks after 8 p.m. County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland warned that anyone “who organizes, promotes, or participates in these unsanctioned gatherings…will face swift and decisive legal action.” Point Pleasant Beach police are also monitoring a flyer for a potential takeover event, while local lawmaker Paul Kanitra has introduced bills to restore penalties for under‑age alcohol and cannabis possession and broaden rioting statutes.

The coordinated crackdown reflects heightened law‑enforcement vigilance ahead of the unofficial start of summer on the Jersey Shore.