After a crime-ridden 2023 season, Miami Beach’s ‘divorce’ from spring break pushes party-seekers to areas like Fort Lauderdale, home to Broward County’s largest beach, about 30 miles from the coast. Probability is high.
And officials appear to be publicly welcoming annual gatherings in preparation for the sudden influx.
Broward County has already increased security and established a visible presence by increasing parking fees, installing license plate readers and surveillance cameras, and coordinating with local and county law enforcement.
Fort Lauderdale is expected to be this year’s hotspot in the county, with Mayor Dean Trantalis saying “we welcome all visitors year-round,” but that doesn’t mean we need to prepare for any eventuality. That’s not to say there isn’t a contingency plan. The sun spirals into wild chaos and crime.
Florida spring break party sparks mayhem in Miami
Spring breakers enjoy the sand and sun at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, Friday, March 17, 2023. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
The city reserves the right to close sidewalk cafes if the situation gets out of hand, and the Hollywood Police Department enforces bans on alcohol, smoking, single-use plastics, canopy and cooler rules, and no animals on the Broadwalk. announced a ban.according to Coverage by WSVN.
Fort Lauderdale is considering other plans, including increasing parking fees and fines, and is expected to approve them at the City Council’s next March 5 meeting. sun sentinel.
Spring break danger: 5 Americans die after vacation
Spring breakers enjoy the sand and sun at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, Friday, March 17, 2023. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Trantalis is expected to provide more details on its additional plans for spring break this year at a press conference Friday morning.
“With our community-based police and first responders, we know Fort Lauderdale is a place where you can enjoy peace while enjoying our many restaurants and enviable views,” Trantalis said in a statement Wednesday. .
Fort Lauderdale has Spring break web page We call it “organized fun.”
It says, “Welcome Spring Breakers! We look forward to seeing you.” “We want you to enjoy all that Fort Lauderdale has to offer, but we have set some ground rules to help everyone enjoy this spring break season.”
Alcohol, coolers, tents and tables, scooters and live music will be restricted in certain areas throughout March, police presence will be increased, and beach sweeping and cleaning will be conducted daily from 5:30 p.m., the report said. will be held, and enforcement will be strengthened in the entertainment area from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. every day.
However, the city is also preparing a “featured beach area” along with a “spring break rideshare zone” and free transportation services.
Spring breakers enjoy the sand and sun at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, Saturday, March 18, 2023. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Miami Beach wants nothing to do with spring break
This comes after Miami Beach officials and police announced last year that police made 488 arrests, including more than 230 felony arrests, and seized 105 firearms during the annual March chaos period. , was vocal about keeping the city away from spring break.
Wild brawls, unruly crowds, brazen gunfights that included two murders, gang violence, and lawlessness – some of which was captured on video that went viral on social media – took to the streets of South Beach. It spread.
Nurse who assisted Americans in alleged Bahamas attack was ‘scared’ by what we saw: ‘It could have been my daughter’
Last year, the city declared a state of emergency, which has been done virtually every year during spring break.
“We’ve been struggling with spring break for quite some time,” Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones said at a Feb. 13 meeting, when city officials introduced new rules that essentially watered down the spring break scene. ” he said.
“The bottom line is, I want a divorce starting from spring break.”
Crowds gather at Ocean Drive and 8th Street during spring break on Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida. Miami Beach authorities imposed a curfew the following night after two shootings and a rowdy and chaotic crowd that police had difficulty controlling. (DA Varela/Miami Herald, via AP)
Crowds walk up and down Ocean Drive during spring break on Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida. Miami Beach authorities imposed a curfew the following night after two shootings and a rowdy and chaotic crowd that police found difficult to control. (DA Varela/Miami Herald, via AP)
The new rules outlined below are expected to supersede Spring Break. But the question is whether they’ll move north or west to places like Wynwood, and that’s unclear.
Recently elected Miami Beach Mayor Stephen Miner told Fox News Digital that law and order will be a priority when he takes office this year. He addressed his message directly to potential visitors.
“Come here and enjoy our city, but don’t come looking for trouble,” he said. “It’s not going to end well.”
Tropical resort popular with Americans no longer “banned” for cartel killer: “Rules have changed”
Trantalis told the Sun-Sentinel that Fort Lauderdale doesn’t have as many problems as Miami Beach, so he won’t take such drastic action, but he expects visitors to behave well. He said he was there.
“We all know for a fact that Miami Beach is cracking down on spring break,” Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steve Glassman said, according to a Sun Sentinel report.
“We want to be prepared for an influx of all kinds of people who might say, ‘Hey, it’s going to be a lot easier if I go to Fort Lauderdale.’ , we really don’t want you here.” They’re really saying, “Please don’t come here.”
Spring breakers flock to the beach in South Padre.
Spring breakers enjoy the sand and sun at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, Saturday, March 18, 2023. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
What changes has Miami Beach implemented?
In addition to the curfew, the Miami Beach City Commission has made other changes. City webpage It’s titled “Miami Beach Says Goodbye to Spring Break” – and runs through March.
- Parking in South Beach municipal garages and lots is $30 ($100 from March 7-10 and March 14-17), except for residents and employees.
- Entry to these garages and grounds will be restricted after 6:00 p.m.
- Double tow fee for non-residents is $516.
- Security checkpoint and baggage check upon entering the beach
- Beach entry via Ocean Drive is limited to 5th Avenue, 10th Avenue, and 12th Avenue
- Entrances to these beaches close at 6 p.m.
Spring breakers enjoy the sand and sun at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, Saturday, March 18, 2023. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Spring breakers enjoy the sand and sun at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, Saturday, March 18, 2023. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Additional measures will be in place over the weekends of March 7-10 and March 14-17, including:
- License plate readers will be installed in the eastbound lanes of Julia Tuttle Causeway and MacArthur Causeway from 6:00 p.m. March 8-10 and March 15-17, resulting in significant traffic delays. is expected
- Drunk Driving Checkpoint on Fifth Avenue March 8-9 and March 15-16
- Rentals of slingshots, golf carts, electric scooters and other motorized vehicles will be prohibited from March 7th to 10th and March 14th to 17th.
Temporarily eliminating the option of civil charges for low-level marijuana possession is also being discussed, according to the Miami Herald.
Jones said South Beach is expected to have license plate readers, DUI checkpoints and more police officers than “we’ve ever seen.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“It’s going to be difficult to come to our city and when you get here you’re going to be expected to play by the rules,” he said, according to the Miami Herald.
“If you’re trying to cause trouble, don’t come to Miami Beach…. Our message is simple: We want people to enjoy their time here, but we don’t want people to come to Miami Beach in the past few years.” I will not condone this behavior.”
Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.
