Battle Brewing Over Beach Fees

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J July 10th, 2001 — The state is threatening to sue the borough if it keeps charging children under the age of 12 to use its beaches.

The state attorney general`s office, which is in a tussle with Point Pleasant Beach officials over public access to the Ocean County municipality`s beaches, has asked the borough to ensure its contractor, Aqua-Serve Lifeguard of Wall, stops assessing beach fees to children under 12.

Point Pleasant Beach is the only municipality in Monmouth and Ocean counties that charges children under 12 to use its beach, according to a survey of beach fees by the Asbury Park Press of Neptune. The daily fee is $1.50 and the seasonal pass $45 for children ages 5 to 11.

"The town doesn`t enforce anything unless the state comes down on them," said Ed Sirchio, president of Citizens Right to Access Beaches.

Mayor John Pasola said the borough will comply with the state`s directive.

Last summer, the state received numerous complaints that homeowners were violating state public access laws by erecting signs and hiring security to keep beachgoers off their property.

The borough was required to sign an agreement in which it would ensure the public has at least 10 feet of dry sand along its 1 1/2-mile coastline, or it could face litigation.

The state originally set a June 13 compliance deadline but then agreed to enter into nonbinding mediation, with one stipulation: The borough had to stop charging children under 12 a beach fee.

State investigators discovered on July 4 that fees were still being charged.

Several residents said they do not believe children should have to pay to play in the sand and swim in the ocean.

"They get enough from adults and teen-agers," said Glynn Dugan. "Some people have three or four little ones. For a daily badge it`s not so bad, but if you have to buy season passes it gets expensive."

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)