Community Corner

NJ Transit Bans Boozing on Concert Trains

Violators will face a $1,000 fine and get kicked off the train.


Attention concertgoers: keep the pre-party off the train. NJ Transit has banned all beverages on North Jersey Coast Line trains when concerts are held at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, according to philly.com.

The ban reflects a policy that was put into effect towards the end of the 2012 concert season when a number of people had to be treated for alcohol poisoning, according to the Asbury Park Press.

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Such problems have been ongoing. In July 2011, NJ Transit police had to summon help from the Aberdeen Township and Matawan Borough police departments to deal with a rambunctious crowd of young people trying to board a bus bound for the Lil' Wayne concert at the PNC Arts Center.

The Matawan side of the parking lot was littered with discarded plastic cups and police were seen writing summonses and threatening arrests. One young man was written up for urinating on the wall of the old station building.

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In August 2012, police officers and ambulances were on hand at the Aberdeen-Matawan train station to deal with crowd control and about 10 passengers at the Long Branch Train Station were taken to Monmouth Medical Center after passing out from heat exhaustion.

Long Branch Police Capt. Jason Roebuck said many of the minors were intoxicated and that the train was "overcrowded."

On concert nights, shuttle busses run from the Aberdeen-Matawan Train Station stop to the PNC Arts Center.

With the implementation of this ban, discretion will be used for commuters who bring coffee and water on board, according to philly.com.

Violators will face a $1,000 fine and get kicked off the train.


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