Proposed Extra Bar Fees May Be Illegal, Says NJ Official

A New Jersey official says a proposal by Point Pleasant Beach to force bars to pay an extra fee if they want to remain open until 2 a.m. appears to be illegal.

In a letter to Mayor Vincent Barrella, the state's community affairs commissioner says the borough would be imposing fees it has no power to institute. The extra money would help pay for additional police patrols to address quality-of-life issues near the boardwalk in the Jersey Shore community.

The boardwalk bars are offering the borough $800,000 over five years. But they also want to scrap a law that takes effect in July prohibiting non-resident overnight parking on some streets nearest the boardwalk bars.

Town officials are expected to consider the issue during a meeting Tuesday night.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)