06 March 2024 , 17:19
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Miami is getting ready to welcome hoards of students for Spring Break — but there will be strict rules this year after last year's celebrations saw hundreds of arrests and back-to-back shootings that left two people dead.
Crowds are set to flock to Florida in March to enjoy partying on the Sunshine State's beaches as universities break up for their spring holidays. Fort Lauderdale is excited to welcome "organised fun" but Miami Beach has declared it's "breaking up" with spring break in 2024, announcing a string of new measures in an attempt to keep students who just "want to get drunk in public and ignore laws" away.
"Expect curfews, security searches and bag checks at beach access points, early beach entrance closures, DUI checkpoints, bumper-to-bumper traffic, road closures and arrests for drug possession and violence," the Miami Beach website states.
Some seasonal restrictions for crowd control went into effect on Friday, with more expected to be put in place. The crackdown on partying comes after fatal shootings in 2023 led to a state of emergency being declared.
A curfew was imposed then too after police struggled to control chaotic crowds. Emergency officials around Miami are currently bracing themselves for what's to come, even with the new rules.
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More police will be patrolling beaches to enforce the no alcohol law (AFP via Getty Images)In previous years, Miami has seen a lot of violence and intervention from the police over the course of Spring Break. In 2021, more than 1,000 arrests were made among spring breakers, and an emergency curfew had to be put in place.
Then in 2022, two shootings happened, injuring five people, leading to another curfew. Last year the Miami Beach Police Department made 488 arrests, impounded 105 firearms and issued 7,190 traffic citations between 27 February and 27 March.
This year, Miami is bringing in additional security every Thursday through to Sunday as well as limiting access to the beach and closing alcohol stores early. From March 7 to March 10 then again from March 14 to March 17, the parking garages in South Beach will also be closed.
Crowds of people will descend on beaches in Miami and other parts of Florida as the schools break up for the holidays (AFP via Getty Images)While Miami Beach is firmly "breaking up" with Spring Break, Fort Lauderdale, which also sits on Florida's southeast coast, is still "embracing" the party season. Mayor Dean Trantalis told USA Today the city is welcoming visitors and encouraging them to delight in all the entertainment, beaches and restaurants that it has to offer.
"We understand that spring break often brings young people who are looking to have a good time. As long as they maintain a conduct that doesn't destroy property...we feel that spring break is a welcome opportunity for Fort Lauderdale to host," he said.
Previous years have seen a lot of violence and arrests over the course of Spring Break (AFP via Getty Images)The Key West Police Department will increase police presence in Miami to enforce rules against drinking alcohol on the beach, but spokesperson Alyson Crean said they won't put any new rules in place.
Crean said: "Key West does see its share of spring breakers, but nothing like other Florida areas." Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden also warned Spring Breakers that they will be upholding the law.
He said: "We don't want to arrest young people. We want them to come here, we want them to celebrate responsibly, but we also want to set that litmus test and get it out there that they know that there's a zero-tolerance (policy), and that's pretty much across the entire Emerald Coast, from Panama City to Orange Beach."