The city of Miami is setting up new laws and ‘divorcing’ itself from spring breakers after two deadly shootings and over a hundred firearms were seized last year.
Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones and newly elected Mayor Steven Meiner are ‘implementing tough new measures’ after two men were shot dead in March 2023.
The new measures include bag checks, restricted beach access, DUI checkpoints, license plate readers, liquor stores shutting at 8pm and heightened police enforcement for consumption of alcohol in public, drug possession and violent behavior.
During last year’s spring break, about 105 firearms were seized and 488 arrests were made by officials.
Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones and newly elected Mayor Steven Meiner (pictured) are ‘implementing tough new measures’ after two men were shot dead in March 2023
Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones said of the measures: ‘We have been struggling with spring break for quite some time. Essentially we want to divorce ourselves from Spring Break’
During a spring break press conference on February 15, Meiner said: ‘The measures I proposed approved by our Commission will ensure that our residents, businesses, and visitors are safe and thrive during Spring Break,
‘Everyone is invited to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of our City. But we are a law and order City and we will enforce our laws all year round, including during March’s Spring Break.’
City officials have predicted that the weekends of March 7-10 and March 14-17 will be generate the largest spring break crowds this year and therefore implemented additional measures for this time.
Some of the additional measures include a flat parking rate of $100, low-speed vehicles like golf carts and motorized scooters being banned, as well as sidewalk cafes on Ocean Drive being closed during these two weekends.
Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones said of the measures: ‘We have been struggling with spring break for quite some time. Essentially we want to divorce ourselves from Spring Break.’
Girls spending their Spring Break on Panama City Beach, Florida
Groups of Spring Breakers huddled together as they partied the days away in Fort Lauderdale
Last year, Miami Beach has declared a state of emergency and instituted a curfew on March 19 after two shootings over the weekend had left two people dead.
The city had announced the crackdown and banned revelers from being outdoors between March 19 and 20 due to the shootings and ‘excessively large and unruly crowds.’
On March 17, one man was killed and another was injured as dozens scattered and ran for cover.
The injured man, initially reported to be in critical condition, was later released from the hospital.
Four guns were recovered from the scene and the suspect was reportedly ‘cooperating fully.’
Early March 19 morning, a second shooting occurred also on Ocean Drive in South Beach, according to Miami Beach police.
A man was shot and died later at a hospital, and officers chased down a suspect on foot. Their identities were not released, nor were any possible charges.
But these incidents did not deter partygoers as they were seen returning back to the Beach to party.
This is the first time in three years that college students have been able to truly enjoy Spring Break without the threat of Covid restrictions – and their incessant partying proves that they are making the most of the new-found freedom
Two merry students – celebrating a break from their college semester took turns leaping on one another and fighting while the crowd around them jeered and screamed
One reveler, Ronny, 22, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania told the Miami Herald that she had been just a few feet away from the the gunfire that erupted on Seventh Street and Ocean Drive.
‘No one is trying to be dodging bullets on vacation,’ she said as she returned to the scene of the crime to continue raging.
‘I’m always having fun regardless, but y’all have to chill with that shooting stuff,’ she said, adding that some of her peers are ‘down here trying to recreate ‘Scarface.’
More than 100 spring breakers were gathered on the beach nearby where the shooting occurred one day later. Drinking, dancing and hanging out as Afro Beats and Billboard hits.
In 2022, the city had imposed a midnight curfew following two shootings also on Ocean Drive – the same was not imposed after this week’s shooting.
The year before that, there were about 1,000 arrests and dozens of guns confiscated during a rowdy spring break that led Miami Beach officials to take steps aimed at calming the situation.
Talking about this year’s laws, Jones said: ‘If you are looking to cause problems, do not come to Miami Beach.
‘We are fully prepared to ensure our city is safe for everyone. Our message is simple: we want people to enjoy their time here, but will not tolerate the behavior we have witnessed in the past few years.’