I’m sad to report that the otherwise perfect fourth of July on the beach and pier was rudely interrupted by a large and unruly crowd. Apparently after drinking on the beach all day some of the beach goers migrated to Bogue Inlet Pier’s property and began using a lot of vulgar language, fighting, and just acting out of control.
Mr. Stanley does sell alcohol at the pier, and does even let folks sit on his pier and drink. However, should anyone become a nuisance they are promptly asked to leave the property. I read Mike’s (Mr. Stanley) letter to the News-Times. I agree with him, that this mess was due mostly to the fact that the town has no police presence on the beach.
I live very close to the beach and pier. I also visit both of them frequently, and though I enjoy a beer or two down there without overdoing it, its painfully obvious that the lack of law enforcement on the beach is becoming a problem. Though the town has a beach patrol person cruising the beach, and the police occasionally ride by in their vehicle, they don’t seem to ever nip potential problems in the bud.
Granted I don’t think they should be harassing folks that are simply enjoying themselves and not presenting a problem. But when they ride by and see several young people with a mountain of beer cans next to them, it would serve the community well to ask them to clean up the trash, then check identification to ensure none of them are underage drinkers. While I’m at the beach enjoying myself my first concern is those around me, and my friends and I remain respectful and well-behaved. We do not let beer cans pile up, we don’t become loud and obnoxious either.
Mr. Stanley has the right to sell beer to his patrons, he also has the right to charge folks who are not fishing for the use of his parking lot. Is he responsible for those patrons’ safety and actions while they’re on his property….I think so. Is he responsible for those that pay to use his lot, then drag 6 cases of beer to the beach, become a nuisance, then return to his business to start problems? I think not. Those folks should never make it back to the Bogue Inlet Pier parking lot. They should be intercepted by TOWN law enforcement while acting like fools on the TOWN’s property, the beach.
Personally, i think the lack, or poor response by the Emerald Isle police department can be blamed on Town Manager Frank Rush, and Bill Hargett the Chief of Police. I think this has a lot to do with Mike’s decision to not assist the town with their fireworks this year. Which is ridiculous, they still have the responsibility to protect the town’s visitors, as well as it’s business owners.