Teens have a responsibility to act respectfully and follow rules when out in public – but how much responsibility do their parents have over their behavior? After a melee at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison on May 17 (300 teens showed up due to a TikTok challenge, and wound up getting into a major fight), the Edison mayor and many New Jerseyans are asking the question: who is at fault, and what can be done to prevent this from happening again?
Menlo Park Mall currently does not have a curfew or parental guidance policy, but after the incident, Edison Mayor Sam Joshi is calling for sweeping changes to prevent anything like this from happening again. He called on Simon Property Group, the owner of the mall (and others in the state), to add license plate readers, cameras and security personnel.
This past weekend, 500 teens reportedly showed up to the Woodbridge Center Mall for a carnival, then went inside where chaos ensued – and trouble in Seaside Heights saw three people stabbed and 73 arrested.
Now state legislators are pushing for a bill that would make inciting a public brawl a fourth-degree crime. Promoters or organizers could face a fine of $10,000 and up to 18 months in state prison, while anyone else involved could get a disorderly conduct charge and see 6 months in county jail plus a $1,000 fine. If government officials agree, Gov. Murphy could sign this into law before July 4.
Here’s a list of malls and beaches throughout New Jersey where curfews or parental guidance policies are in effect:
Malls
American Dream
East Rutherford
Kids under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older from 4 pm until close every day.
Bridgewater Commons
Bridgewater
Although there is an extensive list of rules for the code of conduct, parental supervision is not mentioned.
Cherry Hill Mall
Cherry Hill
On April 5, the mall implemented its Parental Supervision Policy, which requires that anyone under age 18 be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian 21 years or older on Saturday starting at 4 pm, or at any other time the policy is in effect.
Deptford Mall
Deptford
Anyone 18 and under is required to be accompanied by a parent or a supervising adult aged 23 or older starting at 5 pm on Friday through all mall operating hours on Saturday and Sunday. They must stay with the adult during this entire period.
Freehold Raceway Mall
Freehold Twp.
There is no curfew or parental guidelines, but there is a code of conduct for appropriate behavior by anyone visiting the mall.
Westfield Garden State Plaza
Paramus
Teens 17 and younger must be accompanied at all times by a parent or supervising adult age 21 or older after 5 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Willowbrook Mall
Wayne
The code of conduct doesn’t include a specific curfew for kids.
Woodbridge Center
Woodbridge
There is no curfew or parental guidelines, but there is a code of conduct for appropriate behavior by anyone visiting the mall.
Beaches
Last Memorial Day, after a weekend when Seaside Heights, Wildwood, Ocean City and Cape May dealt with reports of stabbings and gunfire, several Jersey Shore towns established curfews for kids.
North Wildwood and Sea Isle City have teen curfews from 10 pm to 6 am. In Ocean City, there is a curfew for anyone under 18 who is not accompanied by a parent or guardian from 11 pm to 6 am.
Toms River police want kids 17 and younger off the barrier islands from 10 am to 5 am if they’re not with an adult. This includes Ortley Beach and the northern beaches.
Seaside Heights is a teen hot spot for its boardwalk games and rides but unaccompanied minors have to head home by 10 pm, where a curfew takes place until 5 am the following morning.
In Ocean Twp., those 13-17 must be off the streets by 11 pm, while kids 13 and younger must head home before 10 pm.
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