Last modified 7/1/2008 - 3:06 pm
Originally created 070208
  
Illegal fireworks and public drunkenness or unruly behavior won't be tolerated.

By DREW DIXON, Shorelines

Beaches police from Duval and St. Johns counties are preparing to crack down on firecrackers and other explosives during Fourth of July celebrations on Friday.

In Neptune Beach, Police Chief David Sembach said all 20 city officers along with seven from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, three of those on horseback, will patrol First Street. That area has grown increasingly rowdy during Fourth of July celebrations in recent years.

"It seems everyone in the county flocks to Neptune Beach, particularly on First Street. That's where they want to do all their drinking and setting off fireworks," Sembach said, adding the problem areas of First Street are in residential areas between Seagate Avenue and Florida Boulevard. "The citizens are just getting tired of it."

People will be arrested for violations of the city's prohibition on open alcoholic containers in public places and illegal fireworks will be confiscated, Sembach said.

"On the Fourth of July, it's like people just want to get stupid. They drink too much, they party too much. Unfortunately, they think it's just part of their Fourth of July tradition. I think it's time we start changing that tradition to a more mellow tradition," said Sembach.

Neptune Beach and other Beaches cities see streets clogged with holiday revelers, many of whom resort to uncontrolled drunkenness and lighting of illegal fireworks that explode or launch skyward.

Similar preparations are being made in Jacksonville Beach, where the public fireworks display ignites the night beginning at 9 p.m. at the Jacksonville Beach pier off Fourth Avenue North.

Jacksonville Beach police spokesman Thom Bingham said the city will close the pier parking lot to give pyrotechnicians room to set up for the public display. All the city's 61 officers will be on duty.

"We're going to concentrate more on strict enforcement for illegal fireworks," Bingham said. "We're going to have teams of officers dedicated just to going out to confiscate illegal fireworks."

Bingham said individual officers will decide what to do with fireworks violators. It could include a trip to jail.

"They are subject to arrest," Bingham said. "Basically, it will include a notice to appear with a citation and they'll be released on their own recognizance. But with a citation, they will have to make a court date.

"If there are other charges along with the fireworks, they will be arrested," Bingham said.

Jacksonville Beach police will also be looking for violators of the open alcoholic container law in the city, Bingham said.

With fewer public beach accesses in northern St. Johns County, Fourth of July crowds are more manageable but sheriff's deputies will be in force, particularly in Vilano Beach, where many people gather to watch the St. Augustine fireworks.

"We've increased our personnel in every district," said sheriff's Capt. David Messenger, patrol bureau commander. "We will have shifts rotating throughout, especially the north beach, the Vilano area. There will be approximately 15 deputies patrolling that area.

"They man that beach area right there and it is packed every year. That's where we have most of our issues," said Messenger.

Further north, deputies will be patrolling from the Duval County line through Mickler's Landing. But Messenger said the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office will be relying on patrol plans that have worked for several years on the Fourth of July.

"We're pretty much going to go with the game plan that we've had for the past few years. We expect fireworks. We expect parties. We're just going to man our positions the way we have in the past few years," said Messenger, adding deputies are prepared to make arrests for violations of fireworks and open alcoholic container laws.

With thousands of outsiders expected to descend on the Beaches area Friday, Bingham said all coastal law enforcers take the holiday seriously.

"Every Fourth of July, it's extremely busy down here. We prepare for the worst," said Bingham. "We're used to the large crowds. We try to take every precaution and preplan as much as we can. There's always the possibility the crowds could be larger."

One thing that could help crowd control this year is the new Beaches trolley, which began running Friday from the South Beach Regional Shopping Center in Jacksonville Beach near Butler Boulevard to Atlantic Boulevard in Atlantic Beach, Bingham said.

Sembach said police are serious about enforcement but want people to enjoy the holiday.

"We expect not only a larger crowd but we expect it to last longer because it's on a Friday night," Sembach said. "Fourth of July is a time to celebrate and we don't mind them celebrating. However, if things begin to get out of hand ... we are going to take progressive action to prevent that."

Drew Dixon can also be reached at (904) 249-4947, ext. 6313.