Why North Myrtle Beach needs new law targeting wild parties. Is bike week a reason?

North Myrtle Beach is poised to introduce a new ordinance targeting out-of-control parties in the city at the request of the city police.

The proposed ordinance comes a few months before Atlantic Beach Bikefest, which brings hundreds of bikers to North Myrtle Beach around the Memorial Day weekend. Many of those bikers stay in rentals in the city and often have large parties that spill into the roadways.

City officials who spoke with The Sun News denied that the ordinance is intended to address any specific events like holiday weekends or bike weeks, saying the issue is ongoing.

“We have issues all the time,” said at-large City Councilman Hank Thomas. “Of course, it’s more problematic on spring break, things like that, but it’s not particularly targeted towards anything.”

Police Chief Dana Crowell “ has really been wanting something just a little bit with more teeth,” said city multimedia and communications coordinator Gianna Forbis. “We have a couple of ordinances that have been in play for a while, but none of them really solidified … clear definitions.”

The city’s code already has an ordinance addressing nuisances and noise disturbances, but the proposed law specifically takes aim at wild parties and gatherings that block road traffic.

“It gives police the ability to take enforcement action if the ordinance is violated, in a nutshell,” said North Myrtle Beach Police public information officer Desirae Gostlin.

If passed, the ordinance will hold owners, tenants, occupants or other people in possession or control of the premises responsible for nuisance parties. It would also give police the power to break up nuisance parties and make non-residents leave the premises.

“Enforcement authority for nuisance parties is kind of the reason for this ordinance,” Forbis said. “This one kind of just says that the ordinance authorizes officers to order the cessation and dispersal of like nuisance parties, which includes the removal of nonresidents.”

But what is a nuisance party? The proposed ordinance cites gatherings with nuisances including disorderly conduct, public indecency, noise violations, property damage without owner consent, public urination or defecation, illegal littering, alcohol infractions, illegal substance use and traffic issues.

For those road-related nuisances, it specifically cites parked vehicles impeding traffic flow and emergency access, as well as obstructing pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

That means no one can obstruct streets, sidewalks or public right-of-ways. If they do, under the proposed ordinance, law enforcement officers and emergency responders could order them to move the obstruction.

“We have these parties that get out of control, and this gives our police the authority to go in and, not only remove the people, but remove also where they clog roads and stop people from being able to get home,” said Mayor J. Baldwin at a council meeting. “We’ve had that happen in the past. We can have those vehicles removed. It gives them the support that they need to protect us and our livelihoods.”

And while the ordinance applies citywide, both Baldwin and Thomas cited issues with nuisance parties at short-term rental properties.

“With the VRBOs and the rental companies, you never know when a party is going to sprout up somewhere, so this is to make it a little simpler for the police,” said Thomas. “People [responsible for the property] might live in New York or somewhere, and there’s no local contact, so it makes it easier for the police to maybe deal with an issue like that.”

The proposed ordinance needs to be approved on a second reading at the next council meeting before going into effect. After North Myrtle Beach City Council unanimously voted to advance the ordinance at the last meeting, Thomas said he anticipates the measure will pass.