Montauk weekend unspoiled by rowdiness, town officials report

This Labor Day weekend in Montauk was calmer than past holidays, officials said, citing new regulations enacted by East Hampton town to tame seasonal rowdiness and the threat of a hurricane.

Overall, the weekend was orderly, fairly uneventful, and typical for this summer, East Hampton Police Chief Michael Sarlo said in an email Monday.

Across East Hampton Town, the weekend brought 14 arrests, 35 summonses and six noise complaints, he said. Police also issued 98 tickets.

In Montauk, the numbers were down from last Labor Day weekend, with three arrests, about 20 summonses, five noise complaints, two noise violations, and about 30 tickets issued this year. Last year, there were five arrests, 30 summonses, seven noise violations, and more than 70 tickets given out in the hamlet.

Concerns over Tropical Storm Hermine appeared to send some holiday revelers home early, Sarlo said.

About 3,000 residents live in Montauk year-round, but the number can climb as high as 10,000 during the peak summer season. Montauk was still “very crowded” this summer, but the compliance was better because of the new rules, stronger enforcement, and the cooperation of local businesses, Sarlo said.

New local regulations, ranging from noise and crowd crackdowns on bars and restaurants to registry requirements for rental properties, were enacted in East Hampton Town as an effort to subdue the raucous partying that led to more than 400 calls for service last July 4 weekend over issues such as public urination, public drunkenness, and noise.

The changes also eliminated parking in some congested areas and boosted police patrols around the hamlet.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell said that he thought the regulations had been successful so far.

“Certainly the town has made every effort to try to get control of the rowdy illegal behavior and actions that were occurring in Montauk last summer,” Cantwell said Monday. “I think this summer by all accounts was busy but under control.”

Residents have joined in the effort, emblazoning their vehicles with bumper stickers advising visitors to “Respect Montauk (or kindly leave).” Some local businesses have helped spread the message, including The Sloppy Tuna, which received about a dozen noise violations last summer and is now under new management. The bar’s ad for this year’s Labor Day weekend includes the phrase “Respect Montauk” in bold.