CAPE MAY – Cape May City Council unanimously introduced an ordinance Nov. 15 that would prohibit exhibition driving in the city. The ordinance is part of a county-wide effort to address the dangerous behavior seen at a recent unsanctioned car rally in Wildwood that claimed two lives in late September.
The ordinance defines exhibition driving as the “operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that results in excessive, abrupt acceleration and deceleration of the motor vehicle, as well as skidding, squealing, burning, or smoking of tires.” It provides for penalties up to and including the impounding of the vehicle or even imprisonment for up to 90 days.
Mayor Zack Mullock told the public at the meeting that more such ordinances would be forthcoming. The goal, he admitted, is to discourage such pop-up rallies from targeting locations in Cape May County.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held at the council meeting on Dec. 6 prior to a scheduled vote on its adoption.
