The City of Miami Beach has stated that it will enforce a curfew starting at midnight this weekend, ahead of the anticipated spring break crowds.
The curfew will begin at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 15 and last until 6 a.m. on Monday, March 18, the city announced.
The city's decision to implement the curfew comes after an announcement from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), who declared that the state will increase police presence at Miami Beach and other popular spring break destinations to control “mayhem.”
It will encompass areas of the city “bounded by 23 Street and Dad Boulevard, Government Cut on the south, Biscayne Bay on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east.”
Businesses in the area must close “sufficiently in advance” of the curfew to ensure compliance. Additionally, businesses are allowed to operate overnight solely for delivery services, according to the city.
Residents and hotel guests within the designated area are permitted to return home or to their hotel. Likewise, employees leaving work are authorized to travel within the outlined area.
The curfew does not extend to essential services such as fire department, police, and hospital services, as per the city’s announcement.
The city has the power to increase fines for noncriminal traffic violations and impound vehicles for infractions within the zone.
DeSantis revealed last week that over 60 state troopers would be dispatched to South Florida. The State Highway Patrol has activated aviation drones and mobile command vehicles to aid with traffic management.
Troopers will use mobile automated license plate readers in Miami to identify individuals with outstanding warrants or driving stolen vehicles.
Traffic management, crowd control, DUI checkpoints, and street closures are also part of the new plan. DeSantis announced that adjacent residential neighborhoods will receive heightened security.
Beachgoers will also undergo bag checks at beach access points and face restricted beach hours. Uniformed officers will patrol beaches using vehicles, ATVs, bicycles, and on foot.
The announcement comes almost a year after two fatal shootings in the city during an influx of tourists and spring-breakers led then-Mayor Dan Gelber (D) to impose a curfew.
“While most may come here to enjoy the amenities of Miami Beach, the overwhelming volume of visitors, a few that come with bad intentions in the presence of guns, creates a wholly intolerable situation,” Gelber said at the time, emphasizing that he doesn’t “ask for spring break in our city” nor does he want it.
The city released an advertisement stating they were “breaking up” with spring breakers who “only want to get drunk in public and ignore laws.”
