Miami Beach breaks with spring break
Miami Beach is imposing curfews, DUI checkpoints and increased towing in March to try to curb unruly spring breakers. (Video: City of Miami Beach)
After years of abuse, Miami Beach ends his relationship with the spring breakers who heal the South Florida city as a playground for wild antics.
Before the spring break rush, the city published its plan to combat drunkenness in public, drug use, drunk driving, vandalism beaches and violence. “Miami Beach is breaking up with spring break,” the announcement read.
Every year in March, while the rest of the country still feels Winter understand, thousands of people flock to Miami Beach to spring to break. High average temperatures In Miami, around mid-to-late March, precipitation is in the 80s, with between 2 and 2.5 inches of rain considered average for the entire month, which is typically the fourth driest in the city.
However, year after year, unruly spring breakers cause increasing chaos. This year, Miami Beach is saying, “It’s not us, it’s you.” »
The city does not ghost its spring breakers but hits them directly where it hurts: their wallets.
“Expect curfews, security searches and bag checks at beach access points, early closures of beach entrances, drink driving checkpoints, traffic bumper-to-bumper, road closures and arrests for drug possession and violence,” the city said.
Police work to disperse a large crowd and reopen traffic on Ocean Drive during spring break, March 11, 2023, in Miami Beach, Florida. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Throughout the month of March, high-impact parking rates will be in effect in Miami Beach from Thursday through Sunday.
A flat fee of $100 for non-residents will be in effect from March 7 to 10 and March 14 to 17 for the garage on 42 Street between Royal Palm and Sheridan avenues. There will be a flat rate of $30 for the remainder of the month for all city parking lots and entertainment district surface lots.
Non-residents who violate parking restrictions will be charged $516, double the normal rate for towed vehicles in South Beach. The city said it would increase enforcement and prioritize towing in residential areas.
WHY SPRING SHOULD ACTUALLY START ON MARCH 1
Parking and towing fees do not apply to Miami Beach residents, access card holders, permit holders or employees.
Miami Beach police escort partygoers as they gather on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida on March 15, 2022. – Music, dancing, alcohol and tiny swimsuits – Spring Break in the United States, commonly called “spring break”, bring together thousands of people. young people head to South Florida every year for a few days of uncontrolled fun, much to the dismay of residents in cities like Miami Beach. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images) (Getty Images)
DUI checkpoints will be in place along 5th Street on March 8-9 and March 15-16. Driving under the influence includes golf carts, scooters, mopeds, and anything powered by a motor. Companies that rent these vehicles will be suspended from March 7 to 10 and March 14 to 17.
Miami Beach Police will use license plate readers to enter the city on MacArthur and Julia Tuttle Causeways March 8-10 and March 15-17. Additional license plate reader details will be in place along the 5th Street corridor March 22-24.
Over the next week, as spring break begins to arrive in South Florida, high temperatures are expected to be in the upper 70s and lower 80s.
