Margate police will start enforcing the parental responsibility ordinance to help crackdown on issues with juveniles.
While summer doesn't officially start until next week, shore towns already have seen major issues with juveniles this tourist season.
As a result, Margate police say they are taking a more proactive approach.
"It is the goal of the Margate City Police Department to prevent some of the issues other shore towns have experienced this summer season," police said.
The past tactics of increased manpower and additional patrols are not enough as the department says they are pushed to their limit as has been seen in other towns along the coast.
"We are asking parents to be responsible for the actions of their underage and unsupervised children," police said.
They will now enforce Ordinance 117-4, known as "Parental Responsibility."
When officers observe a juvenile unsupervised and engaged in behavior that is unlawful, puts their safety at risk or ignore lawful commands between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the juvenile will be taken back to the station, they explained.
Then the parent will be called to take custody of the child anda summons will be issued to the parent.
The juvenile may be charged with any additional underlying offense, if the situation warrants it, police explained.
The announcement came as Sen. Michael Testa led a public hearing among officials looking at how to handle the issue of rowdy juveniles. That too looked at the parents.
