Seaside Heights plans to strictly enforce after-hours beach closures after a man drowned and several others needed to be rescued from a rip current Monday night, mayor Anthony Vaz said.

“This is about trying to protect people,” Vaz told NJ Advance Media. “We’re concerned about the weather causing the tides to be very high and very dangerous.”

One person died and six people needed to be rescued after being caught in a rip current while swimming in the ocean after lifeguards left for the day.

Beaches in Seaside Heights typically open at 9 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. when lifeguards leave for the day, Vaz said.

Patrolmen from the Seaside Heights Police Department will now help close beaches when lifeguards leave and issue summonses to people who remain on the beach.

“They will make arrest

See Full Page