In recent years, Miami Beach officials have tried a slew of tactics to deal with spring breakers who come to South Beach to party and pack Ocean Drive during the month of March. None of them have stopped people from visiting, and last year’s festivities were marred by two deadly shootings and hundreds of arrests.
This year, the city is trying to get ahead of the chaos. To do so, officials are spelling out how a series of measures will mean harsh consequences for misbehavior — and discomfort even for those who simply want to have a good time. A new messaging campaign from the city declares that “Miami Beach is breaking up with spring break” and features an imagined text-message conversation in which the city says: “Hey Spring Break, we’re over.”
On Thursday afternoon at the Miami Beach police headquarters, city leaders held a press conference to discuss their strategy for South Beach, which includes a flat $100 parking rate in city garages and parking lots and the closure of sidewalk cafes on Ocean Drive during the weekends of March 7-10 and March 14-17.
Police Chief Wayne Jones said people can expect license plate readers, DUI checkpoints and more police in South Beach “than you’ve ever seen before.” “It will be difficult to get here to our city, and once you get here, the expectation will be that you play by the rules,” Jones said.
Officials are also telling visitors to “expect curfews,” although none have been formally announced.
