Excessive twerking isn’t welcome on Florida’s famed party beaches. Over the weekend, police arrived with paintball guns and pepper spray to put an end to the rowdy spring break scene in Panama City Beach.
“Twerking is not allowed! Disorderly conduct charges will follow!” a Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife officer reportedly shouted at a lively group of female twerkers Saturday night.
Following several violent occurrences, including shootings and chaotic crowds at parties in Daytona Beach earlier in the month, this precautionary step felt necessary.
Panama City Beach has long been a popular spring break destination but is attempting to reshape its image after facing issues like violence and sexual assault. “On PCB beaches, there’s no drinking, you can’t use coolers, and there’s an 8 p.m. curfew,” said 21-year-old Emory Gill, who sells alcoholic Jell-O shots in nearby Destin, which has recently taken the lead as a party spot.
Even in Seaside, a picturesque beach town made famous by Jim Carrey’s “The Truman Show,” police were out ensuring that teenagers had their behavior in check this weekend.
Social media influencers have turned this charming area into a hotspot for young partygoers, prompting new curfews for minors and a campaign aimed at encouraging parents to monitor their kids’ activities. “A few years back, it was absolute chaos during spring break. We’ve introduced the curfew and the #ComeGetYourKids campaign to track unaccompanied minors,” explained Kevin Boyle, general manager of the Seaside Community Development Corporation.
In Okaloosa County, where Destin is located, law enforcement has issued nearly 300 citations for party-related offenses recently, according to the sheriff’s office.
Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford identified two main issues at play. The first is that high schools near Atlanta have changed their spring break dates, leading to an influx of teenagers. “They’re arriving like locusts,” he remarked.
The second issue is the rise of “takeovers,” which are informal gatherings promoted on social media. “With large crowds, some people bring firearms; gangs sometimes show up. If trouble starts, it quickly escalates,” Ford cautioned.
About the twerking ban, Ford said it’s only unlawful if it’s deemed obscene or if it violates noise ordinances—an issue reminiscent of the dancing ban in the movie “Footloose.” In contrast, Daytona Beach authorities are determined to crack down on troublemakers and are even considering legal action against organizers of recent tumultuous gatherings.
Ford expressed concern that these heightened measures might attract more young people to his area. However, he added, “If they do come, we’re ready to welcome them.”
