WILDWOOD, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Backpacks are no longer permitted on the boardwalk at night in Wildwood. Officials voted to enforce a backpack ban to try to curb the type of unruly behavior that took place during Memorial Day weekend.
The new ordinance is in effect starting Thursday. Backpacks are not allowed on the boardwalk between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano said police officers will be vigilant.
“They’re gonna stringently look at people with the backpacks, and they’re gonna be polite and respectful and ask them to move off the boardwalk with it. Take it to your car, come back up, do what you need to do,” he said.
The goal, he said, is to address the issue of young people bringing alcohol, drugs or weapons onto the boardwalk.
Wildwood City Commissioners approved the ordinance in response to a wild start to the summer. Over Memorial Day weekend, large crowds of teens and young adults swarmed the boardwalk and there were fights and acts of “civil unrest,” Troiano said.
It got so bad that officials declared a state of emergency and the boardwalk was briefly closed to start Memorial Day.
Troiano said there were no major issues over the last few weekends. New Jersey State Police officers have been on site to assist.
Wildwood is not the first to ban backpacks. Ocean City and Sea Isle enforced a ban last year.