OCEAN CITY, Md. - City ordinance violations in Ocean City have more than doubled in August 2025 compared to to August 2024, according to the latest police report.
Police Chief Austin reviewed statistics during the Police Commission meeting showing that ordinance violations rose from 143 in August 2024 to 323 in August 2025.
Deputy Communications Manager Ashley Miller said several factors contributed to the increase.
“This year we had the new tent ordinance, and we also saw more dogs on the Boardwalk along with smoking violations,” Miller said. “It doesn’t always mean somebody got a citation — these numbers also reflect calls for service where officers responded.”
Longtime local Rich Price said he’s noticed the increase in vacationers over the years and understands that some visitors may not know all the rules. “You learn to deal with it when you live here and work around it,” Price said. “After all, they bring the money in."
Traffic stops also increased over the same period, climbing from 680 in August 2024 to 793 in August 2025. Miller attributed that rise to an increase of electric scooters in town.
“A lot of it we know has been tied back to J-1s. It is a very affordable means of transportation,” Miller said.
The increase comes as city officials continue discussions on how best to manage bikes and scooters on Ocean City’s crowded roads and sidewalks. Police records show 38 collisions involving electric scooters have been reported so far this year.
Price worries about safety, especially when scooters don’t follow traffic rules. “I’m looking left to see what’s coming. I don’t expect to see someone coming from my right, either in the bus lane or on the sidewalk, usually at a pretty high rate of speed,” Price said. “If there was a collision, this would be a complete catastrophe.”
City leaders have discussed possible restrictions on scooter use along major corridors like Coastal Highway, Baltimore Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue, though any changes would require state approval because those roads are owned by Maryland.