Hampton Beach: Police step up patrols to crack down on beach drinking

HAMPTON — Summer 2023 will see more foot patrols at Hampton Beach and a heightened law enforcement presence on its north shore, Hampton police said ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.

Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno said officers will be visible on foot, horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, ATV and in cruisers this summer, cracking down on public drinking and watching for dangerous driving. He and other law enforcement officials gathered Thursday to talk about what they are doing to keep the public safe this summer.

“We hope that all who live in, work in, and visit our community enjoy their time here,” Reno said. “But we also ask that everyone do so in a safe and lawful manner.”

Reno spoke at a podium next to the Seashell Stage on the pavement overlooking Hampton Beach State Park. He said there would be “enhanced patrols” and enforcement of a “no-tolerance” policy for disorderly behavior, open containers of alcohol or drugs.

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After the speaking event, he explained further how officers, along with lifeguards, will crack down on those who drink on the beach. The town of Hampton has an ordinance against open containers in public, and Reno said fights and rowdy behavior typically involve people who have been drinking all day on the beach.

“That’s when the disorderly behavior starts to kick off, fighting and all that,” Reno said. He said his department and New Hampshire State Parks, who include the Hampton Beach Lifeguards, have been working on a plan together to address the issue early on in the day.

“So that by late afternoon, people are just here enjoying themselves,” Reno said.

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Reno said the North Beach section of Ocean Boulevard will be seeing a significant police presence this summer following complaints from residents. Car enthusiasts have been coming to Hampton Beach in recent years in groups organized on social media.

Instances of drag racing and engine revving have led to complaints from residents and a response from the police. One driver speeding in 2019 lost control of their Chevrolet Camaro and crashed into a resident’s mailbox.

Reno said the town cannot stop people from coming in droves to enjoy North Beach, including the car enthusiasts who line the state parking spots to showcase their souped-up rides.

“They have just as much a right to be there as anybody else does,” Reno said.

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However, he said it is beneficial to have police patrolling the high-traffic area as a deterrent to people behaving recklessly. He said police have already stepped up their presence at North Beach and it has resulted in fewer incidents.

“The car clubs are still coming, but those issues we’re dealing with have been less and less each time they’ve come because the word’s gotten out that we’re going to address that stuff,” Reno said.

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Hampton police and lifeguards both said cool weather has prevented the beach from having busy days that sometimes cause concern for first responders during the preseason when they haven’t expanded staffing for summer yet.

“The water’s been cold,” said Hampton Beach Lifeguard Chief Patrick Murphy. He said his lifeguards have made two saves so far this year.

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Murphy said his lifeguards have been on duty at the main beach since May 1. By the second week of June, his team will have their ranks filled for the season and covering all the state beaches, including those in North Hampton and Rye. Many lifeguards are still waiting for their school years to end, he said.

“Once we get all the kids on, we’ll have all our beaches covered and ready to go,” Murphy said.

Reno said Hampton police have had the quietest month of May in a few years. Normally, warm weather brings large numbers of people to the beach before Hampton police bring on additional officers for the summer season. The department is joined each year by part-time officers who only work in the summer. While the department is authorized to have up to 70 part-timers, this year they have 20, according to Reno.

“The weather’s been very helpful to us because it’s been kind of cool,” Reno said. “Some of the crazier calls we’ve had to deal with over the last number of years early in the season, we haven’t had to do that.”

Alongside Reno to speak on public safety was Department of Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn and leadership from New Hampshire State Police and New Hampshire Fish and Game. They spoke on the importance of preventing drunk driving, New Hampshire State Police Lt. Chris Storm saying there would be increased enforcement on the highway.

State Police Lt. Dennis Wade of the Marine Patrol division asked boaters to refrain from drinking while piloting their boat, as ocean conditions can be dangerous even when not impaired. Department of Transportation Commissioner William Cass said his department will be conducting several construction projects this summer and asked the public to drive carefully to keep crews safe.

Quinn, who became commissioner in 2019, said officers are prepared to keep people safe but rely on the public to do their part in being safe when visiting Hampton Beach.

“I think it’s clear that, if you look around, people from around the world come to Hampton Beach,” Quinn said. “We’re just asking for the public to work together with us to obey the rules.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach: Police step up patrols to crack down on beach drinking