Patch Berkeley, NJ --Police in Mantoloking have issued 36 summonses and made seven arrests since the full reopening of Route 35 through the storm-damaged borough.
Chris Nelson, special counsel for the borough's recovery effort, said at a borough council meeting Tuesday that the summonses include 12 issued for "unwanted tourism" and four for "scrapping."
The borough is defining unwanted tourism as motorists stopping their vehicles to take pictures of the destruction from Superstorm Sandy. Scrapping refers to motorists who enter the borough to illegally take away pieces of scrap metal.
"For the first time in my life, I saw a woman in her Mercedes driving 50 m.p.h. along Route 35 filming the length of the borough of Mantoloking," said Nelson.
A 25 m.p.h. speed limit is being strictly enforced between Mantoloking and the southern point in Ortley Beach, where Route 35 converges with Route 37.
Other tickets were issued for various traffic offenses, including four to people who were driving with suspended licenses.
"If your license is suspended, I wouldn't drive here," said Nelson. "The state police have a car that drives around and [automatically] reads your license plate."
The arrests included those who were taken to jail for disorderly conduct – specifically, a person who was fighting with a police officer who was trying to write a ticket – as well as trespassing.
The borough is being patrolled not only by local police, but state troopers who are in town due to the continued state of emergency declaration. They are accompanied by Ocean County Sheriff's Department officers in four wheel drive vehicles who are patrolling the beach, which is completely off-limits.
According to an earlier statement from Mantoloking Police Detective Lt. John Barkus, motorists are prohibited from driving or parking on side streets within Mantoloking without a resident permit.
The borough has been saturated with police vehicles since the state highway which runs through it reopened. Reported by Patch 6 days ago.