OCEAN CITY, Md.-Â Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in Ocean City over the next few days for the unsanctioned H20i pop-up car rally and law enforcement is already cracking down on any misconduct.
OCPD says two people were arrested Thursday for violating the special event zone rules.
Dan Gillie of Pittsburgh is a first-timer at H2Oi but he is hoping for a peaceful weekend with lots of cool cars.
"There’s going to be a lot of people parking around places," Gillie said. "But try to stick to the crowds of parked cars because when you’re driving around and there’s rowdy stuff going on. There’s always going to be rowdy stuff going on and that's never going to change."
Most participants are out on the side streets and sidewalks but when they are not driving around they head up to the boardwalk. Owner of King's Cotton Candy Stand Danny King is unhappy with the activities that go on.
"It’s out of control," King said. "And when the police do try to combat it and slow it down or whatever, then it’s like throwing gas on a fire you know and they love that stuff and they love making the cops angry."
John Fager who owns Fager’s Island and Bad Monkey says one of his locations is usually a hotspot for viewing all of the cars driving into town.
"Bad Monkey for example is mobbed because it’s right on the highway and it’s upstairs and people can watch the cars from up there," Fager said. "Today is Friday. We probably have at the moment the slowest Friday since May when we were allowed to reopen."
Law enforcement and cars both out in full force. Business owners hope what goes on this weekend does not turn other visitors away from walking through their doors.
The special event zone in effect means 30 mile per hour speed limits and there could be delays heading into town as the car enthusiasts continue to make their way here.