RYE POLICE DEPARTMENT 555 Washington Road Rye, 03870

Kevin Walsh Non-Emergency: (603) 964-5522 Chief of Police Business: (603) 964-7450 www.ryepolice.us Fax: (603) 964-7458

RYE BEACHES REOPENING PRESS RELEASE REOPENING 6/1/20 DATE OF PRESS RELEASE - 5/29/20

As part of Governor Sununu’s Stay at Home 2.0 order, Rye beaches will be reopening with health safeguards on June 1, 2020. This release intends to lay out those safeguards for transparency and clarity. Our main goal is to provide guidance while attempting to answer certain questions that may arise. All of our recommendations are at the direction of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Governor Sununu’s Stay at Home 2.0 order. Below, please find break downs of some of the safeguards which will be in place for the June 1, 2020 Rye beaches and New Hampshire State Parks reopening.

PARKING: • NO PARKING along NH 1A (Ocean Blvd) and 1B (Wentworth Rd) on the seacoast route. All 1A/1B no parking areas will be roped off, barricaded and/or posted. • NO PARKING on any Town of Rye roads regardless of resident status. • Parking WILL be allowed in New Hampshire State Parks (Odiorne State Park, , -Ragged Neck, ). All state- owned public parking lots will be limited to 50% capacity. • Permit parking for residents will be permitted in permit parking areas only. Rye beach permit stickers cannot be issued to non-residents. • No stopping/standing/drop-offs or pick-ups by individuals or business entities. This includes ride sharing organizations (Uber and Lyft). BEACHES: • Rye beaches and New Hampshire State Parks open for non-stationary activities. These may include but not be limited to walking, running, surfing, kayaking and paddle boarding. • Stationary activities like sunbathing (with or without umbrella), sand sports, sitting on shale piles and picnicking are NOT permitted. • Group sizes should be limited to 10 individuals or less and maintain a minimum of six- foot distance between other people at all times. • All services required for ADA compliances will continue to be offered by State Parks. • Social distancing and cleaning and disinfection protocols will be applied by NH State Parks for restroom operations. Congregating is not allowed in restroom facilities. • Dogs are prohibited from the beaches Sunday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM-7:00 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 AM-9:00 PM. All dogs must be under the handler’s control at all times. • Alcohol is NOT allowed on any beach. • Private vendor ice cream trucks will not be allowed.

FINES: • Violations for no parking areas are $50.00. This includes 1A, 1B, and all Town of Rye roads. • Standing/Stopping/Parking violations (NH RSA 265:69) are $62.00 or $124.00 for second offense. • Vehicles parked in violation of permit parking areas will be fined $100.00 and towed. Tow fees are at the vehicle owner’s expense (approximately $165.00 to be paid to tow service company). • Open container violations are $124.00. • Glass bottle on the beach violations are $62.00. • Littering violations are $250.00. All beaches are carry-in/carry-out. • All dog violations are $62.00. Handlers must remove dog waste immediately and carry it out with them.

We are hopeful that we will receive voluntary compliance during this transition period. The ultimate goal is to prevent crowds from forming and to expedite the amount of time that individuals are on the beaches. This will allow others to enjoy the beaches as well. Please note when planning your beach trip what the tide schedule is for the day and avoid coming to the beach during high tides.

While we understand that many people have been longing for the beaches to open, we request that everyone respect and acknowledge that crowds form in an organic nature when it is observed that one or some are staying in one place. We further understand that everyone’s expectations and interpretations are different and we ask that everyone follow the recommendations laid out by the CDC and Governor’s State of New Hampshire Economic Reopening Taskforce.

For more information, please visit the following links/resources. http://www.ryepolice.us/coronavirus https://www.covidguidance.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt381/files/files/inline-documents/guidance-beaches.pdf

Chief Kevin Walsh