Old Bridge, NJ Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

Section 52-3 of the Old Bridge Township Code lists prohibited conduct across every beach, bayfront, lakefront and recreation area the Township owns or controls (§ 52-2), and item (16), added by Ordinance No. 42-94 on July 21, 1994, sets the Township's park and beach curfew: it is unlawful to be at any beach or bay area during the hours of 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. or loiter in any park area between one hour after sunset and sunrise. The only carve-out is for surf fishermen, who may occupy a beach or bay area overnight if they first obtain a valid, current written permit from the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation; anyone on the sand or in a park after hours without that permit is in violation regardless of intent.

The curfew sits alongside § 52-3A(11), which separately bars sleeping on the public beaches or in any recreation area between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., so an officer can charge either or both provisions for someone camped out overnight. The Township Council retains authority under § 52-3B to post additional rules for these areas by resolution, which can tighten hours at specific parks such as Veteran's Park. Because Chapter 52 does not set its own fine schedule, a curfew violation is punished under the Township's general penalty at § 1-3: a fine up to $1,250, up to 90 days in jail, up to 90 days of community service, or a combination, with each day of continued presence a separate offense under § 1-4. Old Bridge Police and Parks and Recreation staff enforce the curfew across Township-owned waterfront and park land.