East Hampton Town will begin enforcing summer beach parking regulations on Friday, April 24, weeks earlier than the
regulations usually take effect, in order to forestall overcrowding at beaches and in parks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The town has also suspended the sale of nonresident parking permits, beach driving permits, and launch ramp permits, effective immediately. Permits issued already will be in effect until their expiration, but will not be extended afterward.
Resident-only and permit-only restrictions are to be strictly enforced, according to a statement issued from Town Hall on
Wednesday.
The move follows the increased use of town beaches and outdoor recreation areas during the pandemic. The town announced on Saturday that both New York State police and State Park police will be monitoring state parks in Montauk, enforcing social
distancing and closing parks that reach “social distancing capacity.”
East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo told the town board on Tuesday that the police have received numerous complaints related to social distancing, particularly in Montauk. Additional police and marine officers are already deployed there on weekends, he said, targeting beaches in particular.
