12 March 2024 , 08:39
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As spring breakers flooded the Florida sands, the party spiralled into chaos with frenzied brawls erupting on Fort Lauderdale Beach, just the beginning of a tumultuous week.
Clad in bikinis and fueled by alcohol, groups of young women were seen engaging in rowdy wrestling matches while jeering spectators goaded them on, sometimes escalating to violence. Images from the beginning of the spring holiday depict scantily clad revellers frolicking on the beach, contrasting with increased law enforcement vigilance on the streets.
In response to last year's deadly shootings, Florida officials had vowed to impose strict measures in Miami Beach, including exorbitant parking fees and early bar closures.
READ MORE: Spring Break 2024 chaos fears sees Miami plan curfews, patrols and even CHECKPOINTS
Thousands of spring breakers flood Florida sands, escalating into brawls and wrestling matches (@X)
Police presence increases along Fort Lauderdale Beach to maintain order amid chaos (@X)Commissioner David Suarez said: "We are shutting it down. We really mean it this time. We are not taking half-measures. We really are doing everything we can to end Spring Break."
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And Commissioner Alex Fernandez added: "We're shutting the door on spring break once and for all. Lawlessness will not be tolerated in Miami Beach."
However, the crackdown had seemingly shifted the party scene 45 minutes north to Fort Lauderdale, where authorities appeared to exercise slightly less stringent control. Half-dressed youths danced in the sun-drenched atmosphere of daytime parties on the beach, in pickup trucks, and on rented boats.
A visible increase in police presence along the beach, with officers patrolling on bicycles, buggies, and SUVs, aims to maintain order. K-9 units weaved through sunbathers, as authorities tried to rein in the raucous festivities that have transformed Fort Lauderdale Beach into "Spring Break Central."
Last year, Miami Beach witnessed 488 arrests during spring break, over 230 of which were felonies, accompanied by the seizure of over 100 firearms.
Miami Beach's crackdown shifted the party scene northward (@X)For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
In a bid to deter visitors, a video circulated by Miami Beach officials conveyed the city's intention to sever ties with spring break, promising curfews, bag checks, and stringent enforcement of laws against drugs and violence. Last year's mayhem prompted the former Miami Beach Mayor to consider cancelling spring break altogether, resulting in the implementation of a midnight curfew after two fatal shootings.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has pledged to maintain order, dispatching 140 state troopers to potential trouble spots. He said state-level employees were "ready to help our local communities maintain order."
"We don't welcome mayhem," he said. "The state has a lot going on, it’s a fun place to be at and we want to see people do that, but we also are going to insist that people respect the law. Florida may be popular for Spring Break, but it is inhospitable to criminal activity."