NJ Police Crack Down On Feeding Seagulls

OCEAN CITY, NJ (CBS) -- The seagulls in Ocean City, New Jersey are notoriously aggressive. While it's been illegal to feed them for quite a while, police are now cracking down on the handouts.

Police Chief Chad Callahan's recorded message plays over the loud speakers all day. It's a reminder that feeding the birds is dangerous to both people and the animals. Police have always taken the approach of warnings before tickets, but that's about to change. If you get caught feeding the flock, be prepared to pony up. Beach goers say something has to be done about these angry birds.

"I think it's a good idea. I just don't know how efficiently we can control an animal's behavior," one beach goer said. "We might be able to control people's interactions with the animals better."

Others say it only takes one person.

"The seagulls always find the people that love to feed them, and then everyone else around you usually gets the brunt of the droppings that may follow."

Bird feeders could face fines of up to $500 and even jail time.