After a troubling Memorial Day weekend in Seaside Heights, local leaders would like to close the boardwalk early on popular holiday weekends moving forward.

The Borough Council is proposing a measure that would shut down the boardwalk at 10 p.m., which is the same time as its curfew for minors.

The boardwalk currently closes at midnight during the week and at 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The proposed change comes after chaos on and around the boardwalk Memorial Day weekend.

The township officials say ended with more than 80 arrests, some adults, some minors, and three people stabbed.

Seaside Heights leaders are also considering a measure to ban backpacks on the boardwalk unless they're being used for what officials call "reasonable purposes."

They say this can help prevent stolen items from being hidden or contraband from being brought onto the boardwalk.

Mayor Anthony Vaz says that if enforced correctly, the new measures could significantly reduce the kind of problems the shore town faced in recent summers, and if the council approves, the new rules would be in effect for this Fourth of July weekend.

Governor Murphy also signed a law this week making it a fourth-degree criminal charge to incite a brawl.

Police and local leaders say that'll give them more teeth when responding to pop-up parties and other unruly activity.

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