New Jersey codifies pro-surfer stance after Belmar Beach narrowly escapes George Floyd-esque catastrophe

"There seemed to be communication issues and variations of the law among municipalities."

It is now officially autumn in the northern hemisphere, summer, its fun n sun n easy times in the rearview. Also, in New Jersey, its wild police overreach that nearly led to a full blown culture riot just a memory. But you certainly recall, in middle August, when a surfer in Belmar was violently tossed to the ground and stuffed inside a police cruiser after failing to present his beach badge.

Our Giancarlo Guardascione explained:

From Memorial Day (May 31) to Labor Day (September 2) all non-residents are required to buy daily beach access badges. Prices range from ten to thirty dollars. Jersey and New York costal communities thrive on blow-ins during the summer months. Most businesses and municipalities have to make their money during these times, hence the badges and inflated “non-local” prices on goods.

It’s a 50 shade of grey line when trying to cross the threshold to the beach. Technically, by municipal law, ya gotta pay if your using the beach. But, if you’re just going to surf, swim or fish (no umbrella, cooler, beach chair) you could walk right by the teen sentinels with a smile and a wave.

Well, the brutality went viral and New Jersey’s arcane “beach badge” patchwork savaged.

Though this coming summer of ’25 peace just might be restored.

State Assemblywoman Margie Donlon, wanting to get ahead of confusion, introduced a bill that would “prohibit a municipality from requiring a municipal beach tag or similar admission pass for access to the wet sandy beach below the mean high tide line, for a surfer or a fisherman for the exclusive purpose of surfing or fishing.”

It is already the rule, based on a law that Gov. Phil Murphy approved in 2019, yet “there seemed to be communication issues and variations of the law among municipalities.”

Donlon, a surfer with nearly two decades of water time clocked, explained, “That was the motivation: to make that law clearer.”

Do you think it will work or after tasting surfer blood, is Johnny Law hungry for more?

Much anticipation.