NEWPORT BEACH : City Beach Night Curfew of 10 Urged
City officials on Monday will consider imposing a 10 p.m. curfew on the municipal beach, matching the curfew going into effect next month on two state beaches in Orange County.
Based on a recommendation from acting police chief Jim Jacobs, the City Council will discuss the proposed curfew at 2 p.m. Monday and may ask that an ordinance be drafted for a future vote.
“This will standardize the times of closures of all beaches in the city,” according to Jacobs’ recommendations. “Due to other cities and the state initiating beach closures at 10 p.m. it is incumbent upon the city of Newport Beach to do the same.”
The State Department of Parks and Recreation’s curfew goes into effect April 4 on Bolsa Chica State Beach and Huntington State Beach, two of the most popular late-night spots in the county.
City officials in Newport Beach and other coastal cities of Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Laguna Beach are worried about trouble being created by street gang members who frequent the sand after dark. As a result, officials in the various cities are considering curfews to prevent troublemakers from migrating from state beaches to city beaches.
Currently, many beaches in the county, including nearly all of the Newport Beach coastline, close at 11 p.m.
Newport’s beaches cover most of the sand from the city’s northern boundary at the Santa Ana River to Corona del Mar in the south.
The City Council will discuss the curfew during a study session at City Hall.
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