NEWPORT BEACH : Slight Drop Seen in Night Beach Crimes

Four months after a 10 p.m. beach curfew was imposed, Police Department statistics show a modest decrease in late-night crime at the beach.

According to police officials, officers responded to 29 beach calls between May 1 and July 31 during the hours of 10 p.m. and midnight. Most of those calls involved curfew violations or alcohol-related incidents that resulted in citation or arrest, Sgt. Andy Gonis said.

During the same period last year, when there was an 11 p.m. curfew, police had responded to 33 calls.

However, it was unclear whether the earlier curfew is responsible for the decline, police officials said. By comparison, the number of calls for service citywide during the same time interval was 2,601 in 1992 and 2,403 in 1993.

In a report, Police Lt. Tim Newman said the 10 p.m. beach curfew, which was imposed in May, can be difficult to enforce by officers on bicycle and by foot patrols.

“During (Friday and Saturday night) peak periods, the officers can literally make a pass through an area and clear it of persons on the beach, only to have others arrive as soon as the officer has left,” Newman wrote.

However, his report concludes that the curfew should remain at 10 p.m.