Beach Tags in New Jersey
Free Beaches in New Jersey Are Rare
Beach tags are required at all other beaches. This is a hot issue in New Jersey. There are some beaches that require you to purchase a weekly tag even if you are only going to be visiting for one or two days. Not all beaches choose to use this system as daily tags are available on many New Jersey beaches. Most beaches do not charge for children under the age of twelve. Each township sets their rules. Senior citizens may receive a discount at some New Jersey beaches. Seasonal badges are an option if you will be visiting for a longer stay or are planning many day trips to the New Jersey shoreline.
Many towns choose to use beach tags to help fund things such as bathrooms, changing stations and lifeguards. There is a lot of controversy over whether beach tags are actually to restrict beach use to people who are paying visitors of hotels, beach house rentals and local residents.
Most beaches post a sign that a beach tag is required. There are "tag checkers" who walk the beach with the purpose of making sure you have your tag. If you do not have a tag, you will be asked to purchase one on the spot or asked to leave. Seaside Heights has fenced in their beach area. You have to go through a pay area before accessing the beach.
On Long Beach Island, there are more than twelve different beach tags. Long Beach Island is no more than twenty miles long. You can not purchase one tag and use it on another beach; even if that portion of the beach is just a few blocks away.
Wildwood which includes Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and North Wildwood offers approximately eight miles of free beaches, while Atlantic City sports five miles of free beaches.
Beach tags are a big business. Ocean County took in over $2.7 million dollars in beach fees during the 2004 season. Don't expect them to go away anytime soon.
Published by Deborah Schwabe
I love to laugh and try to keep life in perspective.I'm a licensed skin care specialist and manicurist. I changed careers in my mid thirties and walked away from corporate life. I also currently run 30 w... View profile
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16 Comments
Post a CommentI haven't been to the beaches in years (12 to be exact)...mainly because of the beach tags. Just another way for the state to suck more money out of people. Very pointless. Seriously where does the money go? Which is why i'll either stay at AC or wildwood until they force the beach tag rule.
If I can't enjoy myself at the beach and have to be forced to buy a beach tag for a few hrs and be annoyed by the jerks lookin for the beach tags? what's the point, we're there to enjoy the beach, sun, and ocean. Not be subject to criminals or something b/c of a stupid tag.
television many years ago, and also happens in New Jersey? I and my friend felt very angry and insulted at this incident. Would it happen if my husband, a caucasian Swiss citizen, was sitting with us at the time? ( the men and kids were in the ocean at the time of the incident).
It must be a better way to monitor this issue. Would you check people's tikets after the persons are in their seats in the theater watching their movie? You only need to be checked at the gate at the theater.
I used to think America is a free country. Not anymore! You have to pay for everything. How many beaches are private? What left for the public although we paid very expensive tax!
It is claimed that the beach tags help to funds thing such as bathrooms, changing station, and lifeguard, as mentioned in the article above. I found no toilette paper in the bathroom. Having young children, age 9 and 6, I looked around to see if there is a lifeguard around. There was none in my view from when I a
Cont. 2nd part.Then by 2:30 PM, I, a Vietnamese American and my female friend, a native of Sri Lanka, were approached by a young female beach tag patrol (I avoid to use the word "beach tag nazi" as Mr. D.K's comment in the post on 05/24/2009, but it is very well described what I felt after she left us). She demanded that we showed her our beach tags. She was not satisfied when only my friend showed her beach tag, and turned to me and demanded me to do the same. I had to dig in my shoulder bag and looked for it. I noticed she did not walked to any other visitors around us who all look Caucasians, but left the beach. No one around us wore a beach tag, I observed. Everyone around looked at us for the whole time the incident occurred, like we were criminals. What would this incident look like, as Mr. D.K. already experienced just a little over a year ago? Is it called "racial profiling", like pulling other non-caucasian drivers over on the highway which was seen on television many yea
I and my husband and two children got to know and love Sea Isle city three years ago when we started camping at Parvin and Belleplain State Forest. We liked the beautiful and peaceful beach and the little Angelo's pizza shop at the corner in the center of the beach front. We used to complement Sea Isle City beach to our family and friends, and finally invited a friend and her family to Sea Isle City beach with us. However, to our disappointment,this would be our last trip to this beach.
Yesterday, Memorial day, May 31,2010. I, my family, a friend, and her family arrived to Sea Isle City around 12:30 PM. We were asked to purchase beach tags for all four adults, $5/each. We were surprised but complied! This was actually the first time we had to pay to be at the beach. Probably, we arrived late on previous visits and was not aware of this new policy which started 2006, as I just did my research on this now! Then by 2:30 PM, I, a Vietnamese American and my female friend, a native
I am going to try to be concise which may not be possible. The beach tag rip off is a state-wide disgrace. These towns rake in gobs of cash and not only complain about their expenses but call anyone they don't know a "benny", a term for which there is no definitive meaning. The townies would love to keep these beaches to themselves but are "forced" to share them with the rest of the population. GET WITH IT! YOU LIVE IN A RESORT AREA. TOURISTS ARE IDIOTS, WHAT A REVELATION. This is like living by an airport and complaining about the noise. But I digress...I have been to beaches in 10 states in the good ol' US of A and NJ is the only place I have had to pay. So, what, are the other states stupid and NJ is smart? These towns can do this because, admittedly, they are virtually overwhelmed with takers. If you don't want to pay, step aside because there is someone VERY close behind you. The only way around this is a season tag which can make sense if one goes often enough. For example, Avon
I visited my sister in Sea Isle three years ago. She and my brother in law rented a very nice house on the bay. I thought it would be a good idea to take her three kids to the beach for a little while. After 1/2 hour of trying to find a parking spot,(metered) we were greeted by the beach tag girl. I really did not care about the beach tag law, so I bought a one day tag for myself and my oldest niece. (the younger two were free) And we made our trek towards the ocean. Ten minutes after settling down, we were treated like criminals, being forced to show our tags to the beach tag nazi. It was like being pulled over for no reason. I called my sister and told her we were going to be late. The reason? I took the kids to Wildwood.
Yeah, what's crazy to me is that I think NJ is about the only place that does this....I'm not 100% sure, but I've not paid to go on beaches in other places!
a free beach beyond the two or three you say are the only ones that are free, again, just sayin'. I know you've already caught flack for the inaccuracy in this article.
I know this article was written a couple of years ago; however, even with that timeline in mind, I know of a Jersey Beach that was free a couple of years ago, despite your claim. Just sayin'.
Yep...they do :)
LBI is still my favorite place...though I enjoy Wildwood too, and they have free beaches