OCEAN CITY — With the dust settled on the unsanctioned and uninvited H2O International (H2Oi) event two weekends ago, resort leaders this week reviewed the outcome and called for an even stronger police presence and more bite for enforcement in the future.
For the record, the official H2Oi car show was held in Atlantic City the last weekend in September, but, as expected, a huge contingent of car enthusiasts bent on wreaking havoc in Ocean City arrived anyway. Throughout the weekend, Ocean City witnessed the same lawlessness and blatant disrespect for the community from the unregistered and unsanctioned participants who did not make the trip to Atlantic City that have fairly or unfairly been associated with the event in the past.
In the days leading up to the unsanctioned event and throughout the weekend, a special event zone with reduced speed limits and enhanced penalties for some traffic violations was in place, and for the most part, appeared to fulfill its intended purpose. Statistically, the numbers in many key indicators were down slightly this year compared to prior years during the event with fewer calls for service and fewer traffic stops, although the number of citations issued went up significantly.
During Wednesday’s Police Commission meeting, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) Chief Ross Buzzuro outlined some of the statistics for committee members and offered his own assessment of the 2018 event.
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Well when you turn a resort community into an event venue for commerce you should have the infrastructure to deal with it. I have a place in Wildwood they have lots of events. The vintage car and motor cycle beach races TROG " The Race of Gentleman" is a great and civilized event. Far more sophisticated than bike and car week in OC and the dregs that show up and parade around and blasting in the streets. It's a constructive event. Not just some free for all nonsense of people just hanging out and showing off for each other. No one else really cares.
ReplyDeleteLeave the State out of it. OC Politians created the problem and now they have to deal with it. OC gets the money and spends it carelessly like Baltimore and they are not physically responsible with their money. Wished all these events would leave so I could go and enjoy them again. I quit years ago from going to these events held in the Gestapo town of OC.
ReplyDeleteI am glad the corvettes are back!
ReplyDeleteJust put a booth at the foot of the 50 and 90 Bridges and at the Delaware line to interview people and decide if their visit is sanctioned or not. I don't hear them turning away the senior weekers who get absolutely wasted and go on the boardwalk to fight in large groups. The politicians in OC seem hell bent on turning people away.
ReplyDeleteThe town needs to work with the organizer and come to a resolution. I hate to break the news to the geriatric crowd that thinks Ocean City is a retirement community.. These imports are far more popular than the 'cruisers'.
ReplyDeleteLegend in your own mind, eh? Those imports bring chaos (not commerce) and are just a bunch of hoodlums looking for trouble. That’s it - throw the book at them and throw them out - assuming you are one of these types, go up to AC next time - you are not wanted in OC
DeleteThe H2Oi event isn’t sanctioned by Ocean City because of their collectively bad and destructive behavior from years prior. Wildwood is notoriously known to welcome chaos and lawlessness (I spent my teens and twenties there, I know all about it), but Ocean City MD is a FAMILY resort town, and the sanctioned antique and classic car events we hold here bring cars with owners who respect the town, THEIR OWN CARS, and the thousands and thousands of spectators, who could easily be injured or killed in some reckless activity. If wildwood has a venue set up for such nonsense, then go there and let the adults who enjoy the town of ocean city for what it is enjoy it. Problem solved.
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