(USNewsMag.com) – After three years of violence and destruction at the hands of spring breakers, officials in Miami Beach, Florida, are cracking down on activities as the city attempts to “break up” with spring break.
A new marketing video released by the city features newspaper clips of the violence from the past few years that occurred during spring break and outlines the new rules the city is instituting before the start of spring break. The video sounds like a “dear John” letter and features people saying, “It’s not us, it’s you,” urging visitors to think about their behavior while on spring break.
As the city attempts to curb the chaos surrounding spring break in the area, security measures will be implemented, along with a large police presence that will include Florida State Troopers. City officials are warning that there will be parking restrictions and increased fees, curfews, early beach closures, bag searches at the beach, and DUI checkpoints.
During spring break, the city, located on a barrier island across the bay from Miami, often exceeds the number of people considered safe for the people in the city. The restrictions have previously been used as emergency measures during spring break. However, now the restrictions will start before spring break even begins.
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said the restrictions are being put in place before the start of spring break because what has gone on in the city “is just not acceptable, not tolerable.”
Despite the increase in police presence during spring break, the crowds are “unmanageable,” according to Meiner. Miami Police Chief Wayne Jones said the police presence this year will be larger “than you’ve ever seen before.” Jones said that the behavior seen over the last few years will not be tolerated, adding that people should not “come to Miami Beach” if they are there “to cause problems.”
Meiner said businesses have suffered in previous years when they have to close because of violent crowds that gather around a 10-block stretch of Ocean Drive. While the new rules could impact businesses that rely on spring breakers in the short term, officials hope the actions help in the long term.
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