OCEAN CITY, MD – While the official H2O International event has been moved to another city, the Ocean City Police Department continues to anticipate a number of car enthusiasts in the resort beginning Monday, September 24 through Sunday, September 30. After experiencing several years of disruptive behavior, police plan to continue a proactive enforcement strategy with no tolerance for unsafe moving violations and disorderly conduct.
“Our Intelligence Unit has been busy monitoring this event and current social media posts indicate that a number of car enthusiasts plan to come to Ocean City with the intention of being disrespectful to our town,” commented Police Chief Ross Buzzuro. “Residents and visitors should expect a highly visible police presence and a proactive enforcement strategy.” Allied agencies will be in Ocean City to assist including the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, and Maryland Natural Resources Police.
All Ocean City roads will be designated as a Special Event Zone starting on Tuesday, September 25 through Sunday, September 30. Speed limit signs will be changed and reduced to 30 MPH on Coastal Highway and Philadelphia Avenue. Additionally, fines will be increased for all speeding violations in Ocean City during the designated dates.
Common traffic violations seen during motor events include speeding, reckless driving, negligent driving, and spinning wheels. These violations carry fines up to $530 and up to six points assessed by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to your driver’s license.
Spectators are advised to keep public sidewalks clear for pedestrian traffic. Also, open containers on public property, including public sidewalks, streets and alleyways, are strictly prohibited. Anyone violating this local ordinance is subject to a maximum fine of $500 and/or 90 days in jail.
Citizens and business owners are encouraged to be proactive in the event of disruptive behavior and call the Ocean City Police Department immediately at 410-723-6600.
Finally, citizens should expect traffic delays throughout the weekend. Drivers are reminded to use caution, refrain from texting while driving and be aware of pedestrians. Pedestrians are reminded to Walk Smart, use crosswalks, and wait for the signal to change before crossing.
21 comments:
No special event...let's go to special event mode.
Bub bye little cars....whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Hey idiot...it means their money spent somewhere else...so more tourism lost...
So according to the Town of Ocean City nobody is allowed to have fun without their official permission?
Don't need their money or behaviour. Good riddance.
Not fun when they break law and disrespect the town and others
Do you have to break the law to “have fun”
You'd think riots take place every offseason with events. Geez, all hands on deck for a non-sanctioned, non-event, only promoted by social media. Hmmm, whatever happened to that social media college event that was going to take over a weekend a couple springs ago? All hands on deck were called then and NO ONE CAME!
Kids in City Hall - you are overacting...plus you need to open you arms out for events...the money is needed by your merchants after an awful season!!!
OCPD, this isn't open season on locals either! Remember - most of US are over 60 and are only trying to get to our local establishment for dinner and return so we're in bed by 8pm! (snicker snicker!)
Good for Ocean City! Finally nice to see an agency being PROACTIVE instead of REACTIVE! Threats were made, and the police have taken preventative measures! I'm glad!
A couple of points to the posters that are faulting the town (i.e., "no fun", "Losing tourist dollars", etc.).
1. SAFETY is the #1 most important factor to visitors and vacationers to a resort town. Other factors, such as traffic, cost, cleanliness, come in far down the line. If the place ain't safe, they ain't coming.
2. This unofficial "convention" is NOT safe. I live in OC. During the last couple of events, I came upon at least a dozen incidents which were pretty much out of control. The OCPD was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the participants. Vacationers that were unaware of the event taking place during their visit will absolutely think twice about ever returning to OC.
More tourism would be lost because of that than any amount of "tourism dollars" that could be made by letting this crowd run wild.
I predict, for this upcoming unsanctioned event, that it will be much more civil, once the crazies in the group realize the extent of the Special Event Zone ticket costs, and the very real risk of having their pride and joy car impounded!
OC was right about the new fence (no casualties this summer), and they are right to come down hard on this one.
8:16: You said, "Hmmm, whatever happened to that social media college event that was going to take over a weekend a couple springs ago? All hands on deck were called then and NO ONE CAME!"
Actually they DID come. Only due to the efforts of the OC Police were there VERY few incidents.
The many "secret party locations" (mostly local bars) that were planned - and charged money for by the organizers! - were shut down before trouble began.
Don't ever underestimate the participation and professionalism of LE in your town.
Some of these people think that Barney Fife is on every corner.
Let them keep thinking that...
If I was just a tourist that was visiting for the weekend, and one of the cops gave me a $500.00 ticket for a $75.00 offense, that city would never see me again. That is just an asinine way to try and punish a group that the city doesn't like. I'm surprised the city, in their greedy attempts to wrest every dime from their visitors, doesn't keep the zones in effect permanently. I grew up in that town....and now I hate it. I haven't set foot on that island in years, and I only live twenty minutes away. It is more hassle than it's worth.
Dear 8:37,
I could not agree more with your assessment, and I too reside in Ocean City and was more than privy to the debauchery and lawlessness these car enthusiasts engaged in. To be sure, there will be a number of comments here about how these individuals are just misunderstood car enthusiasts, that the city is over reacting in an attempt to generate revenue, that the City is missing a golden opportunity to make up for a lousy season, etc.
8:37 is quite correct, and I agree that the several days these folks were in attendance were globally unsafe in a ridiculous manner. While I am certain that there are folks who belong to this group that obey the law, what was witnessed by myself (and indeed the entire town) was an atmosphere of mayhem.
The truth is that a very large contingency of individuals are looking forward to doing nothing more than causing problems. The response from the legislature provides for fines up to $1k (depending on offenses), significant points on an offenders license and possibly impounding cars that do not meet DOT regulations for safety.
To close and to those misguided folks who seem to think that this sort of behavior is acceptable, it is not and an appropriate law enforcement response is awaiting.
Regards,
Paladin
To 9:36:
Ridiculous.
In 1967 as a sixteen year-old, I was caught with a $1.98 bottle of wine, went to court, and was fined $152.50 ($100 fine - $52.50 court cost) for underage drinking.
That is well over $1000.00 in today's money!! It happened to me and many of my friends and acquaintances.
Since then, I've brought MY four kids AND my many Grandchildren back to OC for vacations.
You play - you pay.
It sounds a little like you have the "snowflake" mentality that bad behavior has no consequences.
(BTW: You've really missed a lot by staying away from OC. You should give it another shot. (But not during the car weekends!)
I love you people from Salisbury. When Ocean City tries to make the resort more secure and family friendly you get on them for being too restrictive. When they Don't you make Ocean City out to be as if it's riddled with crime and despair. But I know when people hate how their lives are then they are more likely to criticize others. It makes them feel better about their crappy life. Anotherwards maybe the people posting negativily of OC should instead spend that time on how to make their Salisbury at least half as prosperous as OC
How do they designate it as a "Special Event Zone" when there is no event?
9:05:
Simple.
It is designated from about ten years of history; from dedicated law enforcement involvement in monitoring the "unofficial event".
Also from excellent undercover work (such as monitoring social media sites) - the same that was and is done for Bike Week and "College Beach Takeover Week".
Simple.
And if you see something, say something. I damn sure will.
They don't know who the undercover officers are either. SURPRISE. Put your hands behind your back.
September 20, 2018 at 2:22 PM:
You have a knack for reading what isn't even there in my comment. Never said a damn word about bad behavior not having any consequences. My comment is about selective enforcement of excessive fines against a (or any) selective group. It might be a little deep for you, but my view is about equal protection and due process, under the law. I'm no snowflake, whatever YOU think that is. I'm your age. You just keep going to OC, until you aren't paying attention while you drive and find yourself in one of those "special event zones." The we'll see how much you still like OC. BTW, I haven't missed a thing by avoiding OC. There's nothing there that can't be found somewhere else, for a lot less money. Take the kids and grandkids for a cruise, or to Disneyworld. It's cheaper.
During motorized conventions, at times, The streets are packed. (Obviously due to the fact that 100's of thousands of other people do not share your disgust for Ocean City. They seem to enjoy it here.)
During that period of time, in an effort to assure the safety of everyone, certain controls are instilled.
It's really no different than the 'higher fines speed zones' around road construction. This type of "selective enforcement" (as you say) makes drivers more acutely aware of a traffic situation, if nothing else.
As for your other statement about Disney Cruise and Disney World:
We took three granddaughters to Disney World. Ticket price for the kids for four days including two other nearby attractions was over $700.00. Our adult tickets for the four days was over $800.
Hotel was a little over $235 a night (over $1000 total w/tax).
Add airfare, car rental, the enormous food and drink prices at the park, and we were averaging about a thousand dollars a day for four days.
To some people it may be better than OC, I understand that. But cheaper? No way in hell.
(The Disney Cruise is a nightmare. We didn't go, but the girls kept telling the parents that they "wished they could be in Ocean City"!)
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