MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – It was a relatively quiet Sunday night in Miami Beach right after the new spring break curfew went into effect.
“For the most part the spring breakers were compliant,” Officer Christopher Bess, a Miami Beach Police Department spokesperson, said.
The spring break breakup message appears to have been received: Authorities believe it’s the reason that their crackdown has been effective so far.
“Messaging,” said Bess. “Not only do we believe it was successful, it went viral and it resonated with our visitors.”
According to police, arrests are down 8% compared to spring break in 2023.
While some businesses welcomed the crackdown after years of unruly behavior, others did not, with a group of nightclub owners taking the city to court over the curfew.
Ultimately, a judge ruled that it would remain in place.
It’s not just club owners who are feeling the impact of the new measures.
Jorge Zubigaray, the owner of Gulf Liquors on 17th Street and Alton Road, says he’s not a fan.
“They’re not being fair,” he said. “They’re not being fair at all.”
He told Local 10 News’ Saira Anwer the new time restrictions on his liquor sales have created a six-figure per week loss in potential revenue for his business.
“They need to figure something else out,” Zubigaray said. “I’m supportive of everybody, but the mayor needs to figure something out.”