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What are beach tags? Why are they controversial?

Beach tags: in most New Jersey beaches, you have to pay to access the sand strips | Photo: Hughes/Creative Commons

When was the last time you were asked to pay to step on a beach? Probably never. But if you have, then you're most likely in New Jersey, where beach tags are required to access its Atlantic sand strips.

Most of the world's beaches are free access, meaning everybody can enter, walk, and swim in the ocean.

Consequently, this also means that private beaches are rare, with most of them possibly located on private islands.

So, why is New Jersey charging residents and non-residents fees to enjoy the sandy zones by the sea?

Are beaches a luxury in the Garden State? Yes and no.

The Concept

Beach tags, or beach badges, are essentially permits that beachgoers must purchase to access specific beaches during the summer months.

The idea is simple: if you want to spend a day on the sand, you need to buy a tag and display it visibly on your person or belongings.

The cost of these badges varies, with different prices for daily, weekly, or seasonal access and occasional discounts for veterans, seniors, and youth.

For instance, a daily beach tag might cost from $3.5 to $15, while a seasonal tag could range from $30 to $150 or more, depending on the location.

Ocean City, NJ: a daily access beach tag | Photo: Creative Commons

The History of Beach Tags

The concept of beach badges dates back to the late 1930s, with one of the earliest instances being in Ocean City, New Jersey.

Initially, the purpose was to generate revenue for maintaining the seaside and providing services such as lifeguards, restrooms, and trash removal.

Over time, other towns along the New Jersey coastline adopted the system, and it became a common practice.

During the mid-20th century, as tourism boomed and more people flocked to the shore, the demand for beach amenities grew.

Towns saw beach badges as a way to fund these amenities without burdening local taxpayers.

By the 1980s, beach tags were a well-established practice in New Jersey, with various towns implementing their own versions of the system.

A Controversial Charge

Despite their widespread use, beach tokens have been a source of intense controversy - even more than Southern California's infamous black ball flag.

Critics argue that charging for shoreline access is inherently unfair, as it limits access to a public natural resource based on the ability to pay.

This issue raises concerns about equity and the idea that beaches, like parks and other public spaces, should be free for all to enjoy.

Some opponents of beach badges have gone as far as to challenge their legality, arguing that they violate the public trust doctrine.

This legal principle holds that certain natural resources, including the shoreline or intertidal zone, should be preserved for public use.

For instance, would it make sense to apply the same charging principle to city parks and gardens, playgrounds, or public plazas?

Maybe not. A taxpayer's money is supposed to fund public expenses.

In some beaches, the cost of tags can be prohibitive, effectively making the beach an exclusive resource for those who can afford it.

Also, charging for beach access raises ethical questions about the commercialization of public resources.

Many believe that beaches should be free for all to enjoy, without financial barriers.

Last but not least, some argue that beach tags deter tourists from visiting, particularly those who may not be aware of the requirement or who are unwilling to pay.

The New Jersey-born measure could potentially hurt local businesses that rely on a steady stream of beachgoers.

On the other hand, beach tags provide a steady stream of revenue for towns, with supporters arguing that they are necessary for maintaining the quality and safety of the beaches.

They are legally framed as a user fee.

"Without the revenue from beach tags, towns would struggle to fund essential services such as lifeguards, beach patrols, regular beach clean-ups, and facilities like restrooms and showers," say proponents.

They also point out that overcrowded beaches can suffer from erosion, litter, and damage to local ecosystems.

As a result, beach tags help manage the number of visitors and reduce the environmental impact on the sands.

The truth is that courts have generally upheld the use of beach tags, provided that the fees collected are used for beach-related expenses.

Surfers have been arrested in the intertidal zone for not displaying the token while getting out of the water.

People with counterfeit, forged, altered, or fake beach badges face a fine ranging from $100 to $2,000, imprisonment for up to 90 days, community service for up to 90 days, or any combination of these.

New Jersey: Free vs. Paid Access Beaches

In 2024, only 12 out of nearly 90 beaches of New Jersey's 130-mile coastline were free access. Here's the breakdown:

Free

  • Atlantic City
  • Bay Front
  • Beesley's Point
  • Highlands
  • Ideal Beach
  • Jennifer Lane Bay Beach
  • Keansburg Beach
  • Leonardo Beach
  • Strathmere  
  • Union Beach
  • The Wildwoods
  • William Morrow Beach

Paid

  • Allenhurst
  • Asbury Park
  • Atsion Recreation Area
  • Avalon
  • Avon-by-the-Sea
  • Barnegat Light
  • Bay Head
  • Beach Haven
  • Beach Haven Crest
  • Beach Haven Gardens
  • Beach Haven Park
  • Beach Haven Terrace
  • Beachwood
  • Belleplain State Forest
  • Belmar
  • Borough of Highlands
  • Bradley Beach
  • Brant Beach
  • Brigantine Beach
  • Brighton Beach
  • Cape May
  • Cape May Point
  • Cheesequake State Park
  • City of Wildwood
  • Corson's Inlet State Park
  • Deal
  • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
  • Harvey Cedars
  • High Point State Park
  • Holgate
  • Hopatcong State Park
  • Island Beach State Park
  • Island Heights
  • Lavallette
  • Loch Arbour
  • Long Beach Township
  • Long Branch
  • Longport
  • Loveladies
  • Manasquan
  • Mantoloking
  • Margate
  • Maxson Avenue Beach
  • Monmouth Beach
  • North Beach
  • North Beach Haven
  • North Wildwood
  • Ocean City
  • Ocean County Park
  • Ocean Gate
  • Ocean Grove
  • Ortley Beach (Toms River)
  • Peahala Park
  • Pine Beach
  • Point Pleasant Beach
  • Round Valley Recreation Area
  • Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area
  • Sea Bright
  • Sea Girt
  • Sea Isle City
  • Seaside Heights
  • Seaside Park
  • Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
  • Shelter Cover (Toms River)
  • Ship Bottom
  • Spray Beach
  • Spring Lake
  • Spruce Run Recreation Area
  • Stokes State Forest
  • Stone Harbor
  • Surf City
  • Swartswood State Park
  • Ventnor City
  • White Sands Beach
  • Wildwood Crest
  • Windward Beach (Brick)


Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com



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