Hilton Head Island leaders delay vote on beach curfew, large gathering rules after Coligny shooting

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WTOC) Hilton Head Island leaders met Monday to discuss two safety measures in response to a July 4 shooting at Coligny Beach, but voted to postpone both ordinances for further review.

The two proposals under consideration were a curfew for minors on public beaches and new rules governing large gatherings. Each proposal was discussed by the community development and public services committee, residents, and Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner.

Large gatherings ordinance tabled

The proposed public gatherings ordinance was tabled after the committee, the town attorney, and committee members raised constitutional concerns. The sheriff said the proposal was a “slippery slope” and questioned whether it could be made workable. While there are no public gathering ordinances in place on Hilton Head Island, there are rules that address loitering.

The committee agreed that the town’s attorney and the sheriff’s office will work together to determine whether a constitutional draft of the gathering’s ordinance can be developed.

Curfew proposal

The proposed curfew ordinance would require anyone under 18 to be off public beaches by 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, from May through August, unless accompanied by a legal guardian. The curfew hours would run from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The ordinance would not apply to private property and would include exceptions for emergencies such as fire or natural disaster, as well as for minors accompanied by coaches, camp counselors, or babysitters.

Sheriff Tanner offered his own recommendations during the meeting, saying any approved ordinance should apply year-round and every day of the week in order to give law enforcement the ability to enforce it and have leverage with minors. Tanner said activity on the beach picks up around 8:30 p.m. and said he would be open to a 10 p.m. cutoff. He also recommended expanding any future ordinance to cover all public property, including public parks.

Tanner said the ordinance would give deputies the ability to contact a parent and remove minors from the beach, though he noted deputies currently lack the authority to ask for identification in all circumstances.

Leaders were also referencing other South Carolina cities with similar ordinances in place.

Community pushback

Community members spoke during the meeting, expressing concern that the council was acting too quickly and penalizing all teenagers for the actions of a few.

“We shouldn’t repeat this approach with our kids,” one community member said. “Don’t tell every responsible teenager on Hilton Head Island they can’t go to the beach because someone else committed a crime there.”

Another community member raised concerns about the impact on visitors. “Not somebody who’s 17 years old happens to be on the beach and most probably is going to be a tourist,” the speaker said.

A public speaker said it was alarming that public safety had not been on the committee’s agenda until after the shooting. Another speaker said the curfew would not have had an effect on the July 4th shooting.

Next steps

Both ordinances were postponed so local leaders, and the sheriff’s office can collaborate on a draft that all parties agree will be effective and constitutional. If passed, any ordinance would not take effect until next May.

No date has been set for a formal public discussion. In order for either proposal to pass, it must clear the community development and public services committee before going to town council.