Miami Beach is ready to cut ties with spring break — but some aren’t ready to let go.
Throughout the entire month, the city’s Entertainment District will enforce a flat rate parking fee of $30 for parking garages and surface lots, according to theirofficial website. In South Beach, the towing rate will double to $516 plus an additional $30 administrative fee for nonresidents.
Limited beach access on Ocean Drive will now close at 6 p.m. and have security checkpoints and bag checks for any prohibited items such as alcohol, coolers, tents and tables. Beach goers are also not allowed to play music from portable speakers.
Crowds of spring breakers in Miami Beach in 2023.Joe Raedle/Getty
Joe Raedle/Getty
The rules get stricter during the “highest-impact weekends” from March 7 to 10 and 14 to 17 as the city anticipates the largest spring break crowds then. All parking garages in South Beach will be closed from Thursday at 6 a.m. to Monday at 6 a.m. during these weekends and the flat rate parking fee will increase to $100.
The video campaign references lawless behavior and deadly violence being city’s “breaking point."
Last March,back-to-back shootings in South Beachleft two people dead, including a student who was on vacation in Miami. Additionally, a total of 573 arrests were made during spring break in 2023, a spokesperson for the City of Miami Beach confirmed to PEOPLE.
In 2021,Miami Beach declared a state of emergencydue to an influx of crowds amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The packed beaches resulted in an 8 p.m. curfew.
Police officers breaking up crowds in Miami Beach in March 2023.Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty
Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the city said that the “Miami Beach is Breaking Up with Spring Break” campaign is meant to inform “potential spring breakers and any other people coming to cause trouble, that Miami Beach will not tolerate disorderly behavior.”
“The message is clear that Miami Beach is no longer a place for raucous behavior, and that our laws and regulations will be fully enforced,” they add. “We hope this campaign will dissuade unruly crowds from coming to Miami Beach during this time.”
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“Amazing,” one person wrote, while another added, “literally the ONLY reason you could be mad about this for is if you want to be part of the chaos.”
Meanwhile, others pointed out that the video should have been posted in February and that the initiative won’t stop spring breakers from coming to Miami to party.
“Spring break is going NOWHERE, there will be NO breakup at ALL, and these measures WILL NOT stand,” another added.
source: people.com
