OC Today-Dispatch AUGUST 29, 2025
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
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PRICELESS
Schools post best scores in state (again) Results from 2024-25 testing show Worcester County’s public school students lead others in Maryland in English and math proficiency. — PAGE 18
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
TO-GO CUPS Stacy Farrar and her son Charles, from Washington D.C., enjoy the teacups ride at Jolly Roger on the Pier on Aug. 22.
Scooter bootin’ law pursued Weary and wary of scooters on streets, highways, City Council seeks way to keep them off all roads. — PAGE 3
Did trooper shoot fox for kicks? State confirms investigation into whether dive team members were drinking and killed fox for fun with air rifle while assigned to OC Air Show. — PAGE 13
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OC Today-Dispatch
AUGUST 29, 2025
AUGUST 29, 2025
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STEVE GREEN/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Electric scooter users are pictured in Ocean City on Aug. 21. Town officials are discussing how to best address the transportation mode, arguing the devices and its operators pose a safety risk.
Ocean City considers how to solve electric scooter issues By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Aug. 29, 2025) Ocean City officials this week agreed to seek a change in state law that would allow local jurisdictions to regulate or prohibit the use of electric scooters on state roads. Citing the proliferation of electric scooters in town, the Ocean City Council this week agreed to explore ways to restrict such vehicles on Coastal Highway, Philadelphia Avenue and Baltimore Avenue. While state law allows jurisdictions to regulate or prohibit scooter rentals and scooter use on city streets, it does not permit jurisdictions to prohibit or adopt stricter regulations for scooters operated on state roads. “We believe that the high speed of these devices, the instability, and the low visibility make them unsuitable for Coastal Highway, Baltimore Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue,” City Manager Terry McGean told the council this week. “The staff would recommend that the mayor and city solicitor and staff should work with the Maryland Municipal League on a change to state law that would allow local jurisdictions to regulate or prohibit use of electric scooters and similar devices on state roads,” he said. McGean noted that state law defines electric scooters as a type of bicycle and allows them to operate any place a bicycle can, which means on roads with speed limits under 50 mph. Like bicycles, they must also follow all traffic laws. However, McGean said state law also restricts what a jurisdiction can do to regulate or prohibit scooter use
on state roads. To that end, he suggested a change to allow municipalities to prohibit such devices on state highways located within their jurisdictions. “What may work fine in downtown Salisbury is not necessarily what works for Ocean City,” he said. For his part, Councilman John Gehrig said he had no objection to finding ways to address the scooter problem in Ocean City. However, he argued that scooters themselves were not the problem. “I think the problem is people going the wrong way, not following the rules of the road, running the red lights and putting themselves and other people in danger,” he said. Councilwoman Carol Proctor, however, said she saw the issue differently. She said she had witnessed several instances of electric scooters weaving through traffic and running red lights. “They drive them differently than a bicycle. They feel more emboldened to do things they shouldn’t be doing …,” she said. “I think we have a responsibility to do something about it.” Both Councilman Larry Yates and Council Secretary Tony DeLuca agreed. DeLuca added it was an issue that had been discussed by both the Ocean City Police Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. “It’s a two-part question,” he said. “Can we, and will we?” DeLuca then moved to have the mayor and staff work with the Maryland Municipal League on a law change. However, Gehrig maintained it was not a scooter issue, but a user See ELECTRIC Page 6
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