Court Opinion

ID: 9650288
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 15:28:26.796644+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:19.457223
License: Public Domain

Mountain, J.,
.dissenting. The holding in this case is extremely narrow. It is contained in' the following language of the majority opinion:
Where municipal toilet facilities exist adjacent to ¿ public beach, no good reason appears why those using the béach área should not have access to such a basic accommodation. In' the circumstances presented, restricting use to beach club members is an arbitrary and unreasonable exercise of municipal power and authority, [p. 1961
Lest it be the Golden Rule, I know of no law or precept that requires a municipality to do unto: others as it does'unto its own. None is cited in the majority opinion.. The Legislature, which, rather than the courts, has the last word in *198matters of this sort, has made very clear that the control of a municipal beach is to reside in its governing body. The-applicable statute reads as follows:
The governing body of any municipality bordering on the Atlantic' Ocean, tidal water bays or rivers which owns or shall acquire,, by any deed of dedication .or otherwise, lands bordering on the ocean, tidal water bays or rivers, or easement rights therein, for a place of resort for public health and recreation and for other public purposes shall have the exclusive control, government and care thereof and of any boardwalk, bathing and recreational facilities, safeguards and equipment, now or hereafter constructed or provided thereon, and may, by ordinance, make and enforce rules and regulations for the government and policing of such lands, boardwalk, bathing facilities, safeguards and equipment; provided, that such power of control, government, care and policing shall not be construed in any manner to exclude or interfere with the operation of any State law or authority with respect to- such lands, property and facilities. Any such municipality may, in order to provide funds to improve, maintain and police the same and to protect the same from erosion, encroachment and damage by sea or otherwise, and to provide facilities and safeguards for public bathing and recreation, including the employment of lifeguards, by ordinance, make and enforce rules and regulations for the government, use, maintenance and policing thereof and provide for the charging and collecting of reasonable fees for the registration of persons using said lands and bathing facilities, for access to the beach and bathing and recreational grounds so provided and for the use of the bathing and recreational facilities, but no such fees shall be charged or collected from children under the age of 12 -years. [A. J. S. A. 40:61-22.20; emphasis added]
It is perfectly clear that there has been a delegation by the Legislature to the governing body of each municipality which owns a beach bordering on the Atlantic Ocean, of total and exclusive control of the beach area. Here there is no room for judicial intrusion. With great respect I submit that characterizing as arbitrary the failure of Allenhurst to provide facilities for all members of the public who may use the beach is simply altering a perfectly acceptable and valid legislative scheme to conform to what is no more than a judicial preference.
*199I dissent and would in all respects affirm the judgment of the Appellate Division.
For modification and■ remandment — Chief Justice Hughes and Justices Sullivan, Pashman, Clieéobd, Schreiber and Handler — 6.... .
For- affirmance — Justice Mountain- — -1.