OCEAN CITY — Resort officials are seeking to put some teeth in the ordinance regarding sleeping in cars after receiving recent complaints.
Councilman Wayne Hartman said during Monday’s meeting the town has received increased complaints about individuals sleeping in cars in violation of a city ordinance and urged City Solicitor Guy Ayres and City Manager Doug Miller to look into increasing the penalties for the illegal activity. Hartman said the complaints were related to some of the groups the resort has attracted recently.
“There is a correlation between some of the groups that we have that are sometimes disrespectful and a little unruly and sleeping in cars,” he said. “We addressed this through local ordinance and changed the fine from $25 to $100, so I would like to ask our city attorney and city manager if they can look at this further and see if we can take it from a municipal infraction to a misdemeanor and see if that would have any impact on making a stiffer fine or penalty.”
There is a section in the municipal code specifically related to sleeping in cars entitled “use of vehicles for sleeping quarters.”
“It shall be unlawful for any person to sleep in or occupy as sleeping quarters any motor vehicle, or for an operator of any motor vehicle to allow any other person to sleep in or occupy as sleeping quarters said motor vehicle while said motor vehicle is parked on any public way, alley, place, avenue, street, highway or parking lot, or parked on any other public facility,” the ordinance reads.
Hartman said visitors sleeping in cars often leads to other associated illicit behavior.
“Along with that correlation of sleeping in cars, most vehicles, as you know, without taking about RVs, aren’t equipped with a bathroom, so there are some unhealthy conditions that go along with that,” he said.
Later in the meeting, Mayor Rick Meehan agreed the ordinance regarding sleeping in cars needed to be reviewed. Meehan also agreed sleeping in cars can often lead to other issues.
“I think what Councilman Hartman brought up is very important and some of these issues need to be addressed,” he said. “Some of these issues like sleeping in cars lead to other problems.”
Meehan said the current ordinance in vehicles was clear about what is acceptable and sleeping in vehicles is not one of the options.
“This is a bedroom community,” he said. “We advertise and invite people to come for the day or stay and get accommodations. Those are really the only two choices. It’s something we need to address and address as soon as possible.”