Following a Memorial Day weekend of chaos, Ocean City officials have decided to implement new rules aimed at reining in rowdy teens, and some Montgomery County visitors think they are being too strict, writes Chris O’Connell for Fox 29 Philadelphia.

Ocean City leaders described a wild and raucous weekend where close to 1,000 calls were made to police and EMS, most of them focused on unruly teens.

“The sheer number of individuals was alarming,” said Ocean City Police Chief Jay Prettyman. “We had an increase in fights. We had eight juveniles who were unconscious due to alcohol, and we had to take them to the hospital. We had weapons offenses.”

The new rules include an 11 p.m. curfew for kids under 18 as well as a ban on using backpacks on the boardwalk between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. The measures are expected to become official in time for Father’s Day weekend.

However, not everybody believes that the new rules are warranted.

“I know they are having problems down here, but you can’t even have a bag,” said Hatboro resident Frank Visco. “It seems kind of strict.”

Read more about the new rules in Fox 29 Philadelphia.

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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on MONTCO Today in June 2023.