Authorities in Seaside Heights have obtained a court injunction to thwart two large pop-up parties planned for the weekend.
Out-of-town organizers were promoting the beach-area gathering on social media platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat, borough administrator Christopher Vaz said Thursday.
The organizers live in East Orange, Basking Ridge as well as the Bronx, New York and Harrison, New York, according to Vaz. The New Yorkers were planning one of the parties, while people from New Jersey were separately organizing the other. One was going to be on Saturday, the other on Sunday, Vaz said.
The inunction bans people from organizing or promoting a party or large event without obtaining a permit.
Seaside Heights officials also obtained an injunction in Superior Court in Ocean County last year to stop a party, Vaz said.
Jersey Shore towns such as Seaside Heights are hoping to avoid trouble this weekend — usually one of the busiest of the season — but officials said they will be prepared if large crowds of teens and young adults get too rowdy.
Seaside Heights Mayor Tony Vaz said over 100 police officers are expected to be available for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. If it gets too chaotic, police from neighboring towns and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office will be ready to assist.
“I can’t say nothing is going to happen ... because I don’t know,” the mayor previously told NJ Advance Media. “I can assure the people that we will act sternly to stop any nonsense that’s going on.”
The mayor said the borough has plans in place should gangs of teenagers show up. “Come down, have fun, but if you’re looking for trouble, you’re going to be in trouble,” Vaz said.
On the Saturday night of Memorial Day weekend last year, a false alarm about shots being fired sent crowds running.
Beach-goers ran off the boardwalk and into the street as officers were called to try and find any potential shooters or victims.
But the reports of gunfire were false alarms, and the night went on as usual once police cleared the scene, Seaside Heights police said.
In all, 90 people were arrested in Seaside Heights over the holiday weekend last year.
Earlier this month, officials in Wildwood shut down a pop-up party planned for last weekend.
Stories by Jeff Goldman
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NJ Advance Media staff writer Eric Conklin contributed to this report.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.