Ocean City Council Rethinking Old Skateboard Law - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

OCEAN CITY, Md. - A petition circulating online has the Ocean City Council rethinking a 1972 law.

"It's long overdue.  Really, it's kind of ridiculous," said Mike Durkin, a local skateboarder.    

It's nothing new for Ocean City to change, what many call, outdated laws.  Back in July, council members approved an emergency ordinance to change where to use boogie boards.  Now, most council members want to change a skateboarding ordinance allowing boards on the boardwalk.     

"Both laws were made in 1970s, it's now 2012. It's certainly an integrated part of our community," said councilman Joe Hall.    

But not all of council is on board.  One went as far as stating it is a political ploy.

"If this proposal was serious, it could have been done months ago," said Brent Ashley, an Ocean City council member. "It's not that I'm against skateboarding I think its good exercise but I do see a lot of damage on the boardwalk.

"We don't need a specialized law to regulate skateboards.  We need to let the fun happen in Ocean City," said Hall.

Skaters say they couldn't agree more.

"If I got around with any other mode of transportation it'd be completely fine but because I have a skateboard under my feet, people have these stereotypes that we're out causing trouble," said Durkin.  "I just want to get around."

"I think what we have back here: the skateboarding park is where skateboarding belongs," said Ashley.

The Ocean City Council will vote on changing the law at their next work session, which is scheduled for this Tuesday, Sept. 25th.