In June, the City resumed its previous practice of locking the gate to the Poplar Beach Parking lot, in response to an increase in after-hour activities at the beach, which are not only disruptive to nearby neighborhoods, but often represent public health concerns which include alcohol use/abuse and potential impaired driving. Following several recent incidents related to the locking of the gate the City and Sheriff are making a few adjustments to the gate locking procedures, which we’d like to make the community aware of.
As of now, the Sheriff will lock only the entrance side of the gate to Poplar Beach at sundown, leaving the exit open, and will notify individuals parked in the lot of their need to leave within thirty minutes. The sheriff will return following that period and immediately ticket any remaining vehicles and provide another round of notifications. This process will continue until the lot is cleared; at which time, the exit will also be locked to prevent further access until sunrise. In certain circumstances, the Sheriff may be forced to tow vehicles that violate the regulations and refuse to leave the parking lot. Additional signage has been installed to ensure beachgoers clearly understand the operating hours of the parking lot, and there will be additional Sheriff presence at Poplar Beach throughout the holiday weekend, to help manage the expected crowds and help implement the new procedures.
Per the City’s Municipal Code, access to the parking lot will be limited to sunrise to sunset. Poplar Beach itself will remain accessible to the public via the Coastal Trail and Poplar Parallel Trail in accordance with the California Coastal Act. In addition to gate control, the Sheriff’s Office will continue to monitor after-hours activities. We ask for residents to partner with public safety by continuing to alert deputies of illicit activities. To report activity or an incident, please call 911 for emergencies or (650) 363-4911, the Sheriff’s non-emergency dispatch line.