MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – In what officials say is a response to an influx of spring break crowds and a “commitment to protecting public safety,” Miami Beach has set a weekend curfew from 11:59 p.m. on Friday, until Monday at 6 a.m. for a large swath of South Beach.
In a news release, a city spokesperson said Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak enacted “discretionary emergency measures” for up to 72 hours, unless the Miami Beach City Commission grants an extension.
“In consultation with our public safety leadership, we have determined that a midnight curfew is necessary and appropriate to assist in maintaining public safety on this Spring Break weekend,” Hudak said in the news release. “We did not make this decision lightly, but it should not come as a surprise. We have been very clear about our intent to protect the public from the dangerous mayhem that has accompanied Spring Break crowds in recent years.”
Despite the restrictions, opinions among visitors were mixed.
Kell John told Local 10 news that he was ready to hit the scene with his friends who are in from Philidelphia and Chicago.
“I got where the night takes me, " he said. “My mom couldn’t even get me a curfew so they can’t either.”
Another visitor expressed frustration, suggesting that flights should have been halted.
However, others remained resolute, with John’s friend stating, “They can’t stop my motion. I didn’t come all the way from Chicago for nothing. I’m going to have a good time.”
However, law enforcement emphasized the consequences of non-compliance, warning that violators could face jail time.
The curfew is the latest addition to a series of measures implemented by the city as part of its “Break Up with Spring Break” campaign, aimed at preventing a recurrence of the violence and bloodshed witnessed in previous years.
It’s an effort to avoid a repeat of violence and bloodshed in recent years.
City officials defended the measures, asserting their effectiveness. “We’ve taken our most robust measures ever, and it’s worked,“ said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner.
Yet, some visitors expressed frustration, questioning the imposition of a curfew during their vacation.
“You pay for a vacation to go enjoy yourself and they try to give you a curfew, how would you take it?” said one Spring breaker.
Last year, the city commission passed a resolution endorsing Miami Beach’s intention to implement a spring break-related curfew.
City leaders have also publicly cautioned local businesses to “expect curfews” during spring break, particularly over the March 16-17 weekend, “when South Beach historically has experienced the highest level of disturbance and violence,” the news release states.
According to city officials, the following emergency measures are being imposed:
- “Effective each night from March 15, 2024 through March 18, 2024, from 11:59 p.m. until 6 a.m., a curfew will be imposed for that area of the city bounded by 23 Street and Dade Boulevard on the north (including properties fronting the north side of 23 Street or Dade Boulevard), Government Cut on the south, Biscayne Bay on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Businesses within the affected area must close sufficiently in advance of the curfew so patrons can avoid violating the emergency measures.”
- “Public safety officers will patrol the curfew area to ensure compliance by businesses, visitors and citizens. People will be asked to immediately vacate the streets and return to their homes, hotels or other accommodations.”
- “Businesses may continue to operate from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. for delivery services only, and all city residents requiring access to or from their homes, guests requiring access to or from their hotels, and employees of business establishments requiring access, including business deliveries, are permitted. The curfew does not apply to designated essential services, such as fire, police and hospital services, including the transportation of patients, utility emergency repairs and emergency calls by physicians. The curfew also does not apply to people traveling to work or returning to their homes after their work has concluded.”
- “The sale or distribution of any alcoholic beverage(s) for off-premises consumption — with or without payment — will be prohibited in the curfew area after 6 p.m. each day.”
The curfew will be in effect in the following highlighted areas:
In conjunction with the implemented weekend curfew, Miami Beach officials have established a Special Event Zone, effective from 8 p.m. on Friday, until 7 a.m. Monday, covering a specific area.
The designated zone encompasses the following boundaries: 17th Street to the north, Washington Avenue to the west, South Pointe Park to the south, and the Erosion Control Line to the east. Furthermore, it includes all of Fifth Street from the MacArthur Causeway in the west to the Erosion Control Line in the east.
The zone encapsulates Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue and all adjacent side streets.
Within this specified zone, city officials stated drivers will receive double fines for noncriminal traffic infractions and will have their vehicles impounded for violations.