MIAMI – Miami Beach is ready to cut ties with Spring Break — but some aren’t ready to let go.
In a new video campaign released by the city of Miami Beach last Friday, officials shared their plans to implement stricter rules for college students and tourists visiting the city in March.
“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,” according to Miami Beach’s official website.
Local 10 News heard from college student Annika Jackson on Monday who was visiting South Florida from Arizona.
“We are not really like the crazy, crazy, spring breakers,” she said.
“We were glad we were here this weekend and next weekend because we didn’t experience that,” said college student and spring breaker Maddy Skrovan, who was also visiting from Arizona.
“You got to enjoy all that Miami Beach had to offer?” asked Vazquez.
“Yeah, reaped all the benefits,” said Skrovan.
Throughout the entire month, the city is enforcing a flat rate parking fee of $30 for parking garages and surface lots, according to their official website.
In South Beach, the towing rate will double to $516, plus a $30 administrative fee for nonresidents if they are parked in a restricted area.
Limited beach access on Ocean Drive will now close at 6 p.m.
High Impact Measures are in place throughout the month of March — including parking enforcement and increased towing of illegally parked vehicles — with priority given to residential areas.
— City of Miami Beach (@MiamiBeachNews) March 1, 2024
View the graphic below or visit https://t.co/CjCyrLwkPD for details. pic.twitter.com/jC0myG5qQ8
As Miami Beach aims to put an end to its relationship with spring breakers, Local 10 News spoke with visitors and business owners in the city’s Wynwood neighborhood who are looking to capitalize.
“There are a lot of venues and a lot of private restaurants,” said a local tour guide. “It features many of the artists that you see around here, so it just adds to the beauty of everything.”
College student Ruby Wank, who is also visiting from Arizona, said she’s enjoying the South Florida culture.
“I think it (Miami/Wynwood) offers the culture that Miami is almost perceived to have, experiencing that at the local level, the different shops and coffee shops, it’s fun,” said Wank.
Sven Vogtland, who owns several restaurants and venues in Miami, including 1-800-Lucky in Miami and Coyo Taco in Wynwood, says March is one of the busiest months of the year.
“March is our busiest month. We have a lot of events here from Miami Music Week to Spring Break parties at all of my venues and we are really looking forward to the business,” he said. “We are getting ready for a great Spring Break and I am looking forward to people coming to Miami and enjoying it.”
Vogtland told Local 10 News that he hopes that Miami Beach’s breakup with Spring Break will help his businesses.
“We are open for business and Wynwood loves the clients, and if Miami Beach doesn’t want them, we will be happy to take them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Miami Police Captain Freddie Cruz says visitors and locals can expect to see heavy uniformed patrols in Miami’s entertainment district like Wynwood.
“We have a good relationship with all our local partners,” said Cruz. “We are all in communication so we are actually sending officers to the Miami Beach area to assist with any type of crowds they might have, but again, we are ready for it over here should we need assistance. We all work very well together.”
“In all of our entertainment districts, (Wynwood, Brickell, Downtown, Coconut Grove) we always have a heavy uniform presence and some of the establishments actually hire officers to be there,” added Cruz. “This month is quite busy for us. We have Ultra coming up. We have Calle Ocho next weekend, so we will have additional uniform personnel for these events.”
“Do you worry there will be some spillover effect, public safety-wise, into Miami?” asked Vazquez.
“We know in the next couple of weeks we are going to be expecting lots of people, like always,” he said. “We always welcome visitors because this helps the economy, the restaurants, the hotels. However, like always, we ask people to just respect the rules and respect the laws.
“We want people to party and have a good time, however, in a respectful manner,” Cruz added. “We can’t have people taking the streets, blocking roadways, we want businesses to flourish but it needs to be in an orderly fashion. We are going to have plenty of uniformed officers out there for everyone’s safety.”
Cruz wants people to have fun but to show respect.
“We are asking everyone if you are coming to Miami or Miami-Dade County to have a good time but please, respect the rules, respect the laws and just have fun,” he said.