Point Pleasant police charged two business owners this week with violating Gov. Phil Murphy’s order to shut down non-essential businesses.
Anthony Monte, owner of the E-Cig Outpost on Bridge Avenue, had his business shut down and was issued a summons after police said he was found offering curbside service to customers. According to Capt. Robert Lokerson, officers had previously warned Monte that he could ship products to customers but could not sell his wares curbside. On Tuesday, Officer Ryan Grohowski performed a “compliance check” at the business and saw the business offering curbside service, police said.
In a separate incident, a Route 88 gym owner was charged a second time in as many weeks for allowing customers to access her facility, Anytime Fitness in Point Pleasant Borough. Janice Lauria was issued a summons for violating the governor’s shutdown order.
According to Lokerson, borough police received a tip that someone was working out at the gym. The owner apparently told police that the person was a relative, but officers later determined it was a Brick man who was unrelated to Lauria, who had been issued a similar ticket in the past.
She was charged with violating the governor’s order, considered a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey.