By Marlyn Montilla
05 Mar 2024, 16:21 PM EST
Miami Beach is trying to “break” spring break, after three straight years of violence during “Spring Break”, authorities are implementing security measures throughout the month with the aim of stopping the chaos, including parking restrictions for non-residents and the closure of outdoor cafes.
Additionally, the city warned visitors to expect curfews, beach bag searches, early beach closures, DUI checkpoints and arrests for drug possession and violence.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that more than 140 state police officers would also be deployed to reinforce the 40 officers in Miami Beach, AP News reported.
However, shop owners in the city’s famous South Beach neighborhood are worried about losing money at one of the busiest times of the year, and civil rights activists say the bans are a reaction. exaggerated before the large black crowds.
“At the state level we are ready to help our local communities maintain order,” DeSantis said Tuesday.
“We do not welcome chaos,” the governor said. “The state has a lot of things to do, it’s a fun place to be… we want to see people do that, but we’re also going to insist that people respect the law.”
The Republican said that the officers will assist 17 police agencies and that a rapid response team of 24 agents will be available in Bay, Volusia, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, CNN reported.
“We are going to see 45 Florida police officers on our streets in the coming weeks,” declared Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner.
The city even warned travelers with a YouTube video “Miami Beach is breaking spring break.”
A midnight curfew was imposed last year, as well as in 2022, after two shootings that left five people injured.
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