A POPULAR beach has been shut down for the second time in a month, forcing officials to take action and issue a warning.
It comes after beachgoers repeatedly broke a simple summer rule.
Beachgoers have been given a stern reminder of the rules that everyone must follow after cops were forced to shut down the same beach twice in a month[/caption]
Silver Beach in Michigan is being patrolled every day for the rest of the summer period by officers from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office[/caption]
Now, officials have reminded those heading to the beach, especially for Fourth of July, that violation of the rule and others could have serious consequences.
Those who misbehave could be banned, arrested, and/or subject to a fine between $100 and $500.
Officials in St Joseph, Michigan, have ramped up patrols at Silver Beach County Park after two fights broke out there this month forcing them to shutdown the whole area on both occasions.
“Disorderly behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated,” cops said, confirming they are now patrolling the area seven days a week over the summer.
The first incident took place on June 3 around 8:30pm where Berrien County deputies had to use pepper spray to disperse the brawling crowds.
Fighting continued between different groups later on, the sheriff’s office said, after the beach was shut down for the rest of the night and people evacuated from the park.
Three adults were given a misdemeanor and a warrant issued for the arrest of the instigator.
Earlier in the day law enforcement had to issue multiple citations as beachgoers flouted another hard-and-fast rule regarding substances.
The second beach closure on June 22 was sparked when a large number of teenagers and young adults started fighting and disturbing the peace around 8pm.
Berrien County deputies detained a young adult and a juvenile who were cited for causing a disturbance.
But despite the fight being over, tensions remained high and disorderly behaviour continued, sparking the beach shut down for public safety.
Now, as officials brace for an even larger influx of visitors looking to celebrate Independence Day at the beach, an alert has been issued.
“Silver Beach Patrols Underway for the Holiday Weekend…Know before you go!” the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office said.
“Summer is in full swing, and with the holiday weekend approaching, Sheriff’s Deputies are actively patrolling Silver Beach County Park to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and family-friendly environment for all.”
General beach rules to follow this summer
Every beach will have its own set of rules stipulated by local authorities, especially if they belong to a park. But there are some general rules that should be followed by all beachgoers unless otherwise stipulated.
- No possession or consumption of alcohol or drugs
- Clean up after yourself – no littering or dumping
- Be mindful of other beach users especially with sports and loud music
- No glass containers
- No public nudity unless in a designated area
- No camping
- No portable grills or ground fires
- Respect beach wildlife
- Follow lifeguard instructions
- Do not launch fireworks, explosives, lanterns or flares
They issued a reminder of some of the top beach rules everyone is expected to follow.
These include the top three issues that led to citations, arrests, and beach shutdowns this month – disturbances, fighting, and drugs and alcohol.
Beachgoers must not drink or take alcohol or marijuana, loud music, underage gatherings, and public disturbances will be “addressed”, the sheriff’s office said, and “disorderly behavior will not be tolerated.”
The list also noted that dogs must always be on a leash and kept on sidewalks throughout the park and any grilling must be through park-provided grills.
A full list of the County parks rules can be found here.
‘GET TOUGH’
Meanwhile, locals have supported the crackdown from law enforcement.
“This beach was a wonderful place, for families, for a long time,” one wrote on Facebook.
“It’s time to get tough on the people, who are ruining it.”
“Don’t go there if you don’t like the rules,” another said.
“They are to attempt to keep people safe. Plenty of other places to go if you can’t follow the rules.”
Punishments for flouting rules vary depending on local authorities but include bans, arrests, and fines[/caption]
