Looking to be proactive in the state’s struggles with teenager unruliness, Middlesex Borough officials are throwing down the gauntlet to parents. If adults continually turn a blind eye to their kid’s scrapes with the law, they could possibly face legal consequences themselves.
That warning has come in the form of an ordinance introduced by the Borough Council on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The ordinance lists more than 25 offenses, such as drunkenness and vandalizing playground equipment.
If a juvenile is found guilty of a Middlesex-based offense in county juvenile court, their parent or guardian may be ordered to appear in Middlesex Borough municipal court. That municipal court appearance would come with a directive to better supervise the offending minor. If the youth commits a second offense, their parent may face a fine of up to $1,000, a jail stay of up to 90 days, or both. The ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and possible adoption in November.
Reaction to the pending ordinance on Middlesex’s community Facebook pages has been largely positive, but one critic questioned if the governing body is a group of “puritans.” After its introduction, officials were questioned about the proposed law by Middlesex Borough Democratic Chairwoman Monica Townsend.
Mayor Jack Mikołajczyk stressed that the council is doing nothing unique. Other municipal governing bodies throughout the Garden State have adopted similar parent responsibility laws. The mayor said the ordinance is more focused on communication than punishment, attempting to spur parents to be more aware of their child’s activities. The ordinance does not impose any penalties on youths for their behavior. That is handled in juvenile court.
Police Chief Matt Geist said there have been several instances of “dangerous activity” by teenagers in Middlesex in recent years. The new ordinance, he added, would give his department “another tool” to deal with any other future incidents.
Middlesex Borough has made headlines several times in recent years for teenage disorder.
- A teenager “meet up” drew a crowd estimated in the thousands that descended on the Middlesex Fire Department Carnival in April 2024. It was spurred by a viral social media post. Police shut down the carnival early due to crowd control problems. Fights broke out at the site and nearby streets. Law enforcement from various jurisdictions responded to help restore order. The carnival was cancelled for good the following year.
- In May 2025, three youths set fire to new playground equipment being stored at Mountain View Park that was awaiting installation. Officials said this week that insurance paid most of the replacement costs, which was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The charged offenders and their families paid a small amount of restitution.
- Nine people were charged last May in two separate eluding incidents in which groups were riding ATVs, bicycles and dirt bikes recklessly in Middlesex. Three of those charged were teenagers.
There have been other periodic incidents reported on Middlesex’s community Facebook pages of teens riding bicycles recklessly in traffic or local parks.
Townsend was skeptical of the new ordinance, asking what data exists to suggest it is needed. Mikolajczyk replied that no data was gathered in advance. Even though certain offenses might not be occurring in the borough, he said, “doesn’t mean it’s a trend we should be ignoring.”
Officials were steadfast in their defense of the ordinance as Townsend continued to inquire what prompted it.
“Kids run away, give you the finger and run away, curse at you, take off – do that to residents, do that to the police, and nothing happens,” Mikolajczyk said.
“Are you saying something should happen if a kid gives you the finger?” Townsend replied
“The purpose of the ordinance is to let parents know – hey your kid is doing these things,” Mikolajczyk responded. “Are you watching your kids? Are you paying attention? Are you just letting your kids run hog wild?”
The nature of juvenile offenses has changed over the years, Geist said. He noted the reach of social media, using the 2024 carnival as an example. “These things get planned and you can have a lot of people meet very quickly, assemble and make problems,” he said.
Council President Michael Conahan called the carnival incident “a catastrophe.” He described the playground fire as “another huge catastrophe.” Conahan added that he once contacted borough police after witnessing teens on dirt bikes tearing up the Middlesex High School football field.
Geist said the ordinance “is not about just charging juveniles.” It is also looks to correct problematic behavior. The chief noted that teens “sometimes don’t have the capacity to make good decisions.”
Other New Jersey municipalities that have implemented or strengthened parental responsibility and curfew measures include Gloucester Township, Monroe Township, Lindenwold, Perth Amboy, East Orange, Point Pleasant, Margate City, and West New York.
While Townsend questioned the ordinance, Middlesex resident Bruce Sanders supported it. Sanders told the council he sees a “lack of respect and responsibility from these kids today.” The ordinance, he added, “will make parents more aware that they need to be responsible.”
Copyright 2026 Dave Polakiewicz. All Rights Reserved)
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