The Ocean City Council will cast a final vote tonight on a proposal to require people who ride rental scooters at the beach resort to wear helmets while operating them on city streets.

The measure, which would exempt, scooters operated by their owners, has already received preliminary approval and is expected to win final passage.

Under state law, motorcycle riders are required to wear helmets, but operators of motor scooters and their passengers are exempt.

City Councilman Douglas Cymek said the move was prompted by some serious accidents involving scooters.

"We've had a remendous amount of scooter-related accidents in Ocean City," Cymek said. "I attribute that to the proliferation of rental businesses."

Under the proposed ordinance, renters of motorized minibikes or mopeds would be required  to provide helmets to customers. Operators of the vehicles and their passengers would be required to wear them.

The measure also calls for rental firms to clearly display the business' name and telephone number on the vehicle.

Cymek said the exemption for owners was based on the premise that they are likely to be more experienced in the use of the vehicles than renters.

Council President Joe Mitrecic acknowledged  that the exemption  could lead to a scenario in whichtwo people riding together -- one on a rental scooter and another on his or her own -- would be treated differently.

A police officer "would in fact stop one and  let the other  one go," Mitrecic said.