June 28, 2013
Page 7
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Critics of the new $50 flat-fee, all-day charge for the Fourth of July at the Inlet parking lot maintain Ocean City is
gouging motorists to take advantage of the holiday demand.
Photo by Rally Helicopters/Jim Whaley
FROM PAGE 6
the same time. When you're not on
the meter, you are not rushing to get
out of the parking lot."
The fireworks are scheduled to
go off at 9:30 the evening of July 4,
Waters pointed out, so for the fami-
ly planning to spend the day at the
beach, have dinner on the Board-
walk and stay to watch the fire-
works, the $50 flat fee to park in the
Inlet lot all day is the way to go, ac-
cording to the town.
For instance, city officials point to
math to bolster that claim. With
Fourth of July falling on a Thursday,
the town charges $2.50 per hour on
weekdays to park in the Inlet park-
ing lot, and 5 a.m. until midnight
covers a 19-hour period. Without
the $50 flat-fee, those who choose
to park in the Inlet lot would be
charged $47.50 to park over that
span of time.
With that long a stretch unlikely
for most, a more reasonable exam-
ple may be 10 a.m. to midnight (14
hours) and that would equal $35.
"For the convenience, it will out-
weigh the costs," Waters said.
"There is a misconception, and why
people are getting upset is that they
think it was done for revenue pur-
poses, but it was not ... it was a de-
cision that was made to improve op-
erations for our visitors and hopeful-
ly make traffic flow a little smoother,
and avoid having people pay for
time they are waiting in traffic ... the
good news is we have multiple op-
tions for parking."
For visitors who don't think the
flat-fee parking in the Inlet lot is for
them, Ocean City offers additional
lots and street parking that utilizes
the Cale parking system or they can
find free parking on some streets.
Municipal lots are in effect 24 hours
per day and street parking is in ef-
fect 7 a.m. until midnight.
Municipal lots are located on
Worcester Street, Somerset Street,
Dorchester Street, North Division
Street, 4th Street and the West
Ocean City Park & Ride.
During last spring's budget talks,
it was pointed out some private lots
in the downtown area have been
charging as much as $50 for a
space for just the night for some
time.
... Resort: New Flat All-Day Charge Not A Money Grab
116th St. & Coastal Hwy.,
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-723-2120
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