Page 12 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch October 18, 2013 Car Rally Again Raises Concerns By JOANNE SHRINER STAFF WRITER OCEAN CITY – With an increase in police activity linked to participants, Ocean City officials are hoping to create a beneficial partnership with the organizers of the annual Volkswagen and Audi weekend event that comes to Ocean City each September. H2O International, also referred to as H2Oi, is a two-day VW/Audi rally that was held in the Ocean City area Sept. 28-29 this year. The rally is not a sanctioned event with the Town of Ocean City, but there are organized events in Ocean City as well as in points to the west, including Fort Whaley Campground off Route 50. This year, from Thursday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Sept. 29, demoflush reported a population of almost 578,000. During that time, the Ocean City Police Department reported a total of 2,207 calls for service between officers and citizens, and between traffic stops, traffic citations and traffic warnings, there was a total of 1,584 traffic enforcement actions. There were also a total of 14 alcohol citations, 53 total arrests, seven drug arrests, four weapon arrests and seven DUI arrests. Last year, the event was held Sept. 29-30, and from Thursday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Sept. 30, demoflush reported a population of a little over 576,000. Crime statistics increased over last year during the event when there were 1,658 calls for service, 901 total traffic enforcement actions, seven alcohol citations, 78 total arrests, 26 drug arrests, five weapon arrests and nine DUI arrests. In 2011, the event was held on Sept. 24-25, and from Thursday, Sept. 22, through Sunday, Sept. 25, demoflush reported a population of almost 761,000. At that time, crime statistics reported 1,244 calls for service, 541 total traffic enforcement actions, nine alcohol citations, 56 total arrests, 20 drug arrests, one weapon arrest and four DUI arrests. In 2010, the event was held Sept. 25-26, and from Thursday, Sept. 23, through Sunday, Sept. 26, demoflush reported a population of a little over 705,000. Crime statistics reflected 1,195 total calls for service, 438 total traffic enforcement actions, seven alcohol citations, 39 total arrests, 11 drug arrests, zero weapon arrests and five DUI arrests. The fluctuation in demoflush population estimations is due to other events taking place in Ocean City while H2Oi is in town, such as Sunfest that has in the past taken place on the same weekend. “The good news is there are more people in town,” Mayor Rick Meehan said during Friday’s Police Commission meeting. “What is really unfortunate is it is not a sanctioned event. We have no control over it as they have no special event perSEE NEXT PAGE