NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the City’s main visitor season. We quickly grow from a city with a permanent population of about 18,800 people to one with a daily population of more than 100,000. We wish everyone an enjoyable and considerate Memorial Day weekend.
Memorial Day Weekend typically coincides with the annual Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival. The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 emergency. The festival is returning this year and could mean an increased number of motorcycles on the roads, presenting safety challenges for motorcyclists and drivers.
Whether driving a car or riding a motorcycle, everyone should exercise caution and extend courtesy. Continually check to the rear and sides as you drive down the road.
There is an increased presence of public safety officers in North Myrtle Beach during Memorial Day Weekend, including supplemental officers from agencies around the state, including SLED and highway patrol. They are here for the benefit of all residents and all visitors, and their key focus in North Myrtle Beach is traffic management and safety. We want to keep traffic flowing so that gridlock does not occur. When traffic gridlock occurs, frustrations build, and people anger more easily.
While law enforcement works to keep traffic moving, everyone must practice patience. If it normally takes you 10 minutes to get to where you want to go, expect it to take longer over Memorial Day Weekend.
PATIENCE AND CARE ARE STILL NEEDED
- If you are a person in the high-risk categories for COVID-19, please be aware that tourism is now in full swing in North Myrtle Beach and along the Grand Strand. Like everywhere else in America and the world, the COVID-19 virus and its variants still have a foothold here.
- Some of our residents wear masks and gloves when they are out. Please respect their choice. They may be in higher risk categories. We sometimes hear people say, “If you’re afraid, stay home.” We remind you that this is their home.
EXCESSIVE NOISE
Excessive noise is a key complaint during major holiday weekends.
Quiet hours are 11 p.m. through 7 a.m.
The City’s Noise Ordinance States: “It is unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be continued any excessive, unnecessary or unusually loud noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, within the limits of the city.”
Those who violate the noise ordinance can be cited and/or arrested with a fine up to $1,000.
Please be considerate of others.
COMMON MOTORCYCLE VIOLATIONS
We encourage drivers to watch out for motorcycles on our roads, and we encourage motorcyclists to avoid doing the following things, which are illegal and can endanger others on the road:
- Speeding
- Burnouts
- Weaving between cars
- "Holding” intersections to allow a group to continue through without stopping for a red light or stop sign.
Those who do these things are subject to a citation and/or arrest with a fine up to $1,000.
Please exercise good judgment and respect others.
PREVENT MOTORCYCLE THEFT
Motorcycle thefts increase during Memorial Day Weekend. Expensive, custom and show bikes are popular with thieves. Here are some theft prevention tips:
- Avoid parking motorcycles in poorly lit areas.
- Don’t leave leathers, cameras, GPS, helmets, or other valuables on your bike.
- Lock your motorcycle. Thieves can easily overcome factory-installed ignition locks, so use high-quality disk locks, wheel locks, and heavy-duty cable or chain locks.
WE PRACTICE "COMMUNITY POLICING"
Our law enforcement personnel practice "community policing", which means they work to be accessible and available to interact with residents and visitors. Their goal is to establish mutual trust and respect. When that occurs, good things follow for everyone.
They try first to educate people about our laws. If that approach does not work, they may choose to issue warnings. If those approaches fail, they will cite or arrest. Of course, if flagrant and/or serious violations of law occur, law enforcement will react quickly and decisively.
Visitor or resident, if you have questions about what you can and cannot do in North Myrtle Beach feel free to approach any of our law enforcement personnel. They are there to help all have a safe and enjoyable time.
PRACTICE FIRE SAFETY
- No sky lanterns.
- Possession and use of fireworks is prohibited.
GRILLING
In previous years, there have been some unfortunate incidents caused by improper grilling.
- Fires are NOT allowed on the beach.
- Do not operate charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices on balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction.
- Do not cook under tents unless the tent exhibits an affixed NFPA 701 flame-resistance rating.
- Tents and membrane structures more than 400 square feet require a permit.
BEACH RULES
- If you dig a hole on the beach, you must fill it in before leaving the beach.
- It is unlawful to Litter (fines up to $1000).
- Shading devices other than umbrellas are prohibited from being placed on the beach from May 15 through September 15. Prohibited devices include, any material mounted on supports, cabanas, pavilions, sport-brellas or similar devices, tarps, and tents.
- E-Bikes are not permitted on the beach.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to drive any motor vehicle, of any nature or description, upon the public beach within the city. This prohibition shall not apply to governmental, emergency or other authorized vehicles.This section in no way prohibits rights conferred upon the handicapped in accordance with South Carolina Code Annotated, Section 43-33-25 (1976 as amended)
- For a list of beach rules click here.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
- Non-Emergencies: call (843) 280-5511
- Emergencies: call 911
CITY OF NORTH MYRTLE BEACH INFORMATION OUTLETS