Myrtle Beach’s Bikefest planning seeks to control the uncontrollable

City of Myrtle Beach residents might reasonably ask if it’s really necessary to make it unlawful to possess or carry pepper spray, or to wear gas masks during something deemed an “extraordinary event” such as Atlantic Beach Bikefest.

Those are a couple of examples from the proposed ordinance amendment that has received initial approval by the City Council. In both cases, the unlawfulness depends on the intent of a person “to delay, obstruct or resist the lawful orders of a law enforcement officer.”

Another section of the ordinance prohibits “a backpack, duffel bag, satchel, cooler or other item carried with the intent to conceal weapons or other prohibited items.” Obviously, these are aimed at potential troublemakers.

There are also prohibitions against possessing a police scanner or having an animal other than a service dog. Reasonable people may ask why these are in the ordinance. They surely could be removed before the second reading (final approval) to make the ordinance less antagonistic toward people who are not looking for trouble.

With the changes, the city manager could temporarily close businesses in certain areas from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and require the businesses to employ private security officers. Such authority and the prohibitions depend upon the declaration of an extraordinary event.

In addition to Bikefest, hosted by Atlantic Beach since 1979 on Memorial Day weekend, examples of extraordinary events could include the upcoming Carolina Country Music Festival, and national political debates – things that draw huge numbers of people.

Bikefest has been under increased criticism since 2014, when three people were killed and seven injured in eight shootings on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach over Memorial Day. City Manager John Pedersen spoke about preparations for the 2015 event, which profoundly affects Myrtle Beach, other municipalities and Horry County.

“Use of this [ordinance] is going to be very remote,” Pedersen said. “It would take a situation that could not be managed otherwise.”

The council gave initial approval to “an ordinance that defines riots and unlawful assemblies as three or more people acting in a way that jeopardizes public safety and authorizes police to order a crowd to disperse whether on public or private property,” Maya Prabhu reported in The Sun News.

The proposed changes also include defenses that could be used by anyone charged with the misdemeanor offenses, which carry a maximum $500 fine and 30 days.

There may be some overkill in the changes, such as simply having a police scanner or a pet, but it’s difficult to fault the effort to have in place the authority to protect residents and visitors.

“We’ve spent a lot of time putting positive things out there, working with community ambassadors and educating the public,” Pedersen said. “We’re all hoping that there are no incidents during the event this year.”

It’s not practical to think that planning will cover every potential problem the area may face. On the other hand, it’s difficult to take the city to task for doing everything the city manager and others can think of to manage anticipated situations.

Randy Webster, director of Horry County emergency management department, commented at a community meeting on Bikefest planning and community concerns. Everyone needs to understand … “This is an attempt to try to control something that is uncontrollable to the best that we can.”

This story was originally published April 18, 2015 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Myrtle Beach’s Bikefest planning seeks to control the uncontrollable."