Miami Beach to Enforce Rules for Spring Break Visitors

The city of Miami Beach is enforcing stricter rules when it comes to visitors heading to the popular spring break destination this year.

The city will implement curfews, security searches, and bag checks at beach access points, along with enforcing early beach entrance closures, according to a post on Miami Beach’s website. In addition, there will be DUI checkpoints and road closures while police intend to crack down on drug possession and violence.

“The measures… will ensure that our residents, businesses, and visitors are safe and thrive during Spring Break,” Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said in a recent statement. “Everyone is invited to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of our City. But we are a law and order City and we will enforce our laws all year round, including during March’s Spring Break.”

The new rules, which were announced as part of a “breaking up with spring break” campaign, also came with reminders of what is banned on the area’s beaches, including smoking cigarettes or filtered tobacco products, consuming alcohol or drugs, playing loud music, and more.

In addition to these rules, the city will also eliminate all sidewalk seating on Ocean Drive from March 8 to 10 and from March 15 to 17, enforce a flat parking rate at garages and lots of $30 for visitors on several Thursdays to Sundays in March (and close them altogether on others), and double non-resident towing rates.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also pledged to increase law enforcement presence in “popular spring break destinations like Miami Beach, Daytona Beach, and Panama City Beach.” 

“Florida may be popular for spring break, but it is inhospitable to criminal activity,” DeSantis said. “Florida does not tolerate lawlessness and chaos.”

The new rules come as Miami Beach has struggled to keep spring breakers under control following several years of spring break violence and arrests.