Fed’s Previous Concerns Not Enough To Derail Thin Blue Line Effort

OCEAN CITY — The town intends to move forward with the painting of a “thin blue line” along a section of 65th Street in support of the resort’s police department, despite an apparent pushback from federal officials on similar efforts in neighboring coastal communities in New Jersey.

In December, the Mayor and Council approved a measure that began at the police commission level to paint a “thin blue line” in support of law enforcement on the section of 65th Street between Coastal Highway and the Public Safety Building, which houses the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) headquarters. Mayor Rick Meehan said the idea came about after reading an article about Ocean City, N.J. officials painting a thin blue line between the double yellow lines in the street in front of the police station.

However, it came to light the Federal Highway Administration has sent letters to officials in Ocean City, N.J. and other coastal communities where similar efforts have been undertaken, asserting that the painting of a blue line in the roadway could be in violation of federal laws. Specifically, the letters point to a section in the manual on uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways, which states the double-yellow lines on roads and highways should be kept clear of other markings including the painting of a blue line.

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