Ocean City Approves Signs Warning Against Disturbing Peace, Disorderly Conduct

OCEAN CITY — With Bike Week in the books and a handful of vehicle-related special events yet to come, Ocean City officials this week passed an ordinance requiring businesses to install signs warning revelers of the existing disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct laws.

Earlier this month, the Mayor and Council backed off a pair of rather draconian ordinances aimed at curbing some of the disruption associated with the offseason vehicle-related special events and opted instead to enforce disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace laws already on the books. Ever since the spring Cruisin’ event, with its big traffic jams, crowds of often disruptive and unruly onlookers lining the streets and cramming into business parking lots, for example, Ocean City officials have wrestled with ideas on how to continue to foster a welcoming attitude while toning down some of the illicit behavior associated with the events.

Borne out of those discussions was a pair of proposed ordinances which, if approved, would put a damper on the special events-related activities. One of the proposed ordinances would have expanded the Ocean City Police Department’s ability to enforce open container and public consumption laws on certain private property including the parking lots of shopping centers, hotels and motels and restaurants, for example. One of the major issues with some of the vehicle-related special events are the crowds of spectators that congregate with coolers in private parking lots, some merely enjoying the parade of vehicles and others egging on illicit behavior from the drivers.

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