Ocean City's recent crack down on illegal fireworks isn't very popular. And the response from the citizenship is remnicient of the golden days of tarring and feathering.

[Lori Riggs, of Newtown, Pa.] said the city's crackdown was ill-conceived. She said the people behind the amateur displays are responsible and safety-minded. In past years, they would keep everyone a safe distance away and shoot fireworks over the ocean. . .

But police were not prepared for the angry reaction they got from many south-end residents, who hurled eggs and insults. Some people tried to block in police cruisers. Others reportedly spit at police.

Police were enforcing a new city ordinance making fireworks possession a municipal offense. No arrests were made, but Lt. William Wilent said police had cause.

"That would have created more problems than it solved. You had thousands of people elbow to elbow. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor," he said.

Is this a sign that the citizens of the People's Republic of New Jersey have finally had enough?