Every summer, the Jersey Shore fills up — and so do the local police blotters. Whether it’s a fight outside a bar, a stop on the Parkway, or a search on the boardwalk, a summer arrest can turn a fun weekend into a criminal record. If it’s happening to you or someone you care about, here’s what matters most.
What to do (and not do) right away
- Stay calm and polite. Don’t argue, run, or resist — that only adds charges like eluding or resisting arrest.
- Don’t explain your way out. You’re not required to answer questions. Anything you say goes in the report.
- Don’t consent to a search. Politely decline. Whether a search was legal is often the whole case.
- Write down everything you remember as soon as you can — who, where, what was said.
- Don’t just pay it to make it go away. Paying a charge is pleading guilty.
The most common summer shore charges
- DWI — heavy late-night enforcement on Route 35 and the Parkway.
- Assault — bar and boardwalk fights.
- Drug possession — searches on the boardwalk and in cars.
- Disorderly conduct — the catch-all for a night gone sideways.
- Underage drinking & fake IDs — and the license suspension that comes with them.
Where your case will be heard
Almost all of these are handled in the municipal court of the shore town where you were charged. We appear throughout Ocean County and Monmouth County — call us before you do anything else.
Arrested down the shore? Goldman Law Firm — free consultation, 24/7, flat fees explained upfront. Call 908-692-7745.
Charged in a specific shore town this summer? We have town-by-town summer guides for Belmar, Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, Asbury Park, Long Branch, and Manasquan — or read the full Jersey Shore summer legal guide.
Part of our complete guide: For every related New Jersey offense, claim, and defense in one place, see our NJ Criminal Charges Guide.