All right, well, it's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

Attorney General Matt Plotkin earlier today made his annual safe summer trip to the Jersey Shore Boardwalk, making sure those arcade game claws are actually able to grab a prize and basketballs aren't overinflated.

That was a problem in the past.

It may not sound like a serious issue, but over the years, authorities have found dozens of violations with the games, carrying out these inspections so you actually have a shot at winning that big stuffed bear.

Raven Santana reports from Seaside Heights.

It's a summer staple at the Jersey Shore, but behind the fun and flashing lights of Boardwalk Games is a serious effort to keep things fair and safe.

We had a situation a couple years ago with, you may remember, the overinflated basketballs, and so we addressed it.

Today, Attorney General Matt Plotkin and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs officially launched Safe Summer 2025.

The seasonal enforcement initiative is aimed at protecting families and promoting a secure welcoming environment at the shore.

The program includes summer-long inspections of amusement games, ensuring they haven't been altered or rigged to disadvantage players, and that game operators are fully licensed and transparent with rules and prize disclosures.

What we're looking for is to make sure that the rules are followed, that people, when they play the games, they get the fair shot they're entitled to, they can have fun when they're buying fudge or when they're buying stuff at the stores.

The systems work.

We work with local law enforcement and local officials here in Ocean County and at the other shore points.

Last year, we did a lot of hard work.

We inspected 59 different stores at four different shore points.

We found no violations at at least two of the shore points and very few violations at the other two.

We were here last year as well.

We toured the boardwalk where inspectors explained specifically what they are looking for when it comes to games and even food.

What are the three things you're looking for here?

Here, we're making sure that the prizes are properly labeled, they have a license, and all of the prize categories are in the play fields.

Okay, that's the three main things for this game we're looking for, and really, most of the games on the boardwalk.

We are out there and we are here to protect consumers and we do check package and labeling for compliance and make sure that people get what they're paying for.

After a chaotic Memorial Day weekend in Seaside Heights with dozens of arrests and four non-fatal stabbings, Seaside Heights Mayor Tony Voss says the borough is also cracking down.

In response, they've approved two new security measures, now in effect a 10 p.m. curfew for minors and a backpack man on the boardwalk.

We're not gonna bother grandma or mom or dad with their kids but we're gonna look at these kids and say, "We wanna know what's in that backpack."

Yeah, you could bring food, but you're not gonna bring any weapons, you're not gonna bring materials or alcohol 'cause you're underage.

This gives us a little strength to search.

Local business owner Wayne Cimarelli says while he welcomes the new measures, he says the real Hail Mary pass this summer will be good weather and a steady flow of beachgoers.

We blame a lot of it, most of it on the weather.

We're weather-driven.

But there definitely is an issue with cost of living today.

People seem to be not, definitely, they're shoppers, so hopefully what I do, I try to give them a good product and hopefully they'll respond.

The annual campaign also serves as a reminder to consumers if something seems off, whether it's unclear pricing, misleading prizes, or unfair gameplay, they should report it.

The Safe Summer 2025 campaign will continue through Labor Day.

For NJ Spotlight News, I'm Raven Santana.

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