Ocean City finding ways to better motor events

Visitors will be cruising over the bridge to Ocean City for some fun in the sun and of course the extremely popular car events.

Whether it's Jeep Week, Cruisin' OC, or Bike Week, they are all highlights of the summer, but they're also a headache for law enforcement and city officials. 

That's why the OC motor events task force is finding ways to get these events back under control. 

"It's an example of everyone putting all the ideas on the table and everybody working together and understanding exactly as it is right now, isn't working and we need to make some changes," says Mayor Rick Meehan. 

The first change has already been made with Cruisin' OC adding another stop to its event outside of Ocean City.

"I think by working with the raceway in Delaware and getting some of those event participants to move to other areas, especially areas more conducive to do some of the things they're looking to do anyway," says Meehan. 

The next item on the list is how the local community can help out law enforcement. 

"As an association, we've been talking to the police about having a seminar where we can focus on how can businesses better protect their own businesses and what they can be doing proactively," says Susan Jones, executive director for Ocean City Hotels, Motels, Restaurants Assoc. 

But the biggest goal on the agenda is crafting legislation to declare the Town of Ocean City a special events zone, which law enforcement says will make it easier to keep the public safe. 

"It will allow us to do things similar to what they do in work zones where we can double fines, triple fines, increase points and part of the reason for that is that we can make sure everybody realizes in advance to try and mitigate problems before they happen that there will be a price to pay," explains Meehan. 

Mayor Meehan tells us both Delegate Mary Beth Carozza and Sen. Jim Mathias are crafting legislation right now for the special events legislation. Once completed, it will be introduced in Annapolis. 

There will be another meeting next month to revisit some of the issues discussed Wednesday.