The city of Miami Beach has announced a late-night curfew this weekend, when spring break crowds are expected.
The curfew is in effect from Friday, March 15th at 11:59pm until Monday, March 18th at 6am. the city said in a release.
News of the curfew follows an announcement by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) that the state would deploy police to Miami Beach and other popular spring break destinations to limit “disturbance.” He said he would strengthen the military presence.
The plan covers the area of the city “bounded by 23 Street and Dadd Boulevard, Government Cut to the south, Biscayne Bay to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.”
Businesses in the area will have to close “well in advance” of the curfew to allow people to avoid breaching the new rules. The city says businesses can only open overnight for delivery services.
Residents living within the boundaries and guests staying at hotels in the area are allowed access to their homes and hotels. Leaving employees can also leave by moving within the outlined area.
The curfew does not apply to designated essential services such as fire, police and hospital services, according to a city release.
The city has the power to double fines for non-criminal traffic violations and seize vehicles for violations within the zone.
Mr. DeSantis announced last week that he would send more than 60 state troopers to South Florida. The State Highway Patrol activated aerial drones and mobile command vehicles to assist with traffic management.
Police officers will be using mobile automatic license plate readers in Miami to identify people with outstanding warrants and those driving stolen cars.
Traffic calming, crowd control, drunk driving checkpoints and road closures are also part of the new plan. DeSantis announced that security would be increased in surrounding residential areas.
Beach users may also have their bags checked at beach access points and the beach may have limited opening hours. Uniformed police officers patrol the beach in cars, ATVs, bicycles and on foot.
The announcement comes nearly a year after then-Mayor Dan Gelber (D) issued a curfew after two shootings in the city, which was flooded with tourists and spring breakers. .
“While most may come here to enjoy the amenities of Miami Beach, an overwhelming number of visitors, some with malicious intent, come with guns, making the situation completely intolerable. “I’m not,” Gelber said at the time, emphasizing that he wasn’t. He’s not “asking for spring break in our city,” and he doesn’t want it either.
The city issued an advertisement saying it would “say goodbye” to spring breakers who “just want to get drunk in public and ignore the law.”
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