“Hellish Holiday Weekend” Causes Southampton Town To Close Beaches To “Day-Trippers”

If you don’t have “acceptable proof” that you are living or renting within the Southampton Town, don’t expect to visit any Town beaches for the unforeseeable future.

On Tuesday, May 26, after a “hellish holiday weekend,” Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman signed an Emergency Order temporarily closing all Town beaches to daily visitors or “day-trippers.”

While Town beach parking lots were already restricted to residents and renters under a previous Emergency Order, the new Emergency Order (#7.1 of 2020) limits the use of all town beaches to residents and legal renters until May 31st. It also restricts roadside parking near beaches. Emergency Orders, which supersede local laws, are limited to no more than five days, but Supervisor Schneiderman indicated the order is expected to be prolonged.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to enact these restrictive measures,” said Supervisor Schneiderman. “Particularly as we enter Phase 1 reopening, but after what we experienced last weekend with droves of visitors overcrowding our beaches, we are left with no other choice to prevent the resurgence of coronavirus in our community.”

Memorial Day Weekend brought hundreds to local beaches. The Town was flooded with calls regarding public urination, litter, individuals not wearing masks or not complying with social distancing rules, and people camping on the beach.

Even though the weather conditions were not ideal for sunbathing, many headed East in hopes of a successful fishing trip. A narrow stretch of beach at the end of North Sea Road in North Sea was of great concern over the weekend when nearly 500 people congregated there – many of which were there to fish. After deeming social distancing was not possible, the police were forced to close the beach.

The Emergency Order extends the beach parking restrictions to encompass all Town roads within 1000 feet of a road-end directly leading to a public beach or water body. Additionally, parking on East Landing Road, West Landing Road, and Petrel Lane in the hamlet of Hampton Bays have been restricted in the Emergency Order to parking by permit only.

Those planning to spend time at the beach must possess a valid town parking sticker on their vehicles, as well as acceptable proof that they are living or renting within the Town. That includes a valid NYS Driver’s License or Non-Driver ID showing a Southampton Town address; or a valid car registration showing a Southampton Town address; a utility bill showing a Southampton Town address, or any proof of a legal rental.

Southampton Town Police Department, Code Enforcement, Fire Marshals, and the Department of Parks and Recreation personnel will be enforcing these new restrictions and Supervisor Schneiderman relayed that identification would need to be provided only when over-crowded conditions arise.

Violators will be asked to leave and those that refuse could face a penalty. Vehicles that do not possess the proper sticker will be ticketed, while cars parked overnight may be towed.

For more information, visit www.southamptontownny.gov.