MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Spring break crowds in Miami Beach were noticeably lighter than previous weeks before the city’s curfew in the entertainment district passed, but cities like Miami will be monitoring to see if spring breakers move their party to the mainland.
With less than two hours until the 8 p.m. curfew, crowds were spaced out along Ocean Drive on Friday.
Last week, thousands of people packed Eighth Street and Ocean Drive. Several stampedes broke out, along with several other disturbances that required police officers to respond. The crowd prompted the City of Miami Beach to call for a curfew.
As a result, curfew is in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the entertainment district from Thursday to Sunday.
Crowds have been light since Monday — a day after a group of people were filmed jumping on top of a car and partying in nearby residential areas.
“They jumped on cars,” Miami Beach resident Tania Dean said. “They climbed on buildings. A lot of property was destroyed, and everybody was scared.”
City of Miami officials said they are monitoring the curfew’s effects on the mainland, should revelers take their party into other parts of South Florida.
“We will also not tolerate any kind of rowdy behavior, breaking personal property, hurting people, lawlessness,” City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said. “That’s not going to be tolerated in the City of Miami. We are going to be ready.”
Miami Police said they have amplified street patrols, which includes foot and bike patrols, in case the rowdiness moves onto the mainland, especially into the popular Wynwood section.
“We brought in additional police officers to work this weekend,” Miami Interim Police Chief Ronald Papier said. “We will be enforcing the law, and we will be holding people accountable. We have undercover officers. We have additional tactical officers in the event we get larger crowds overtaking the streets.”
Cameras captured a calm crowd walking the Wynwood streets, Friday night, and some came to the area to get away from Miami Beach’s curfew.
“There’s nothing to do. Everything’s closed down,” Emonii Clonley, who is visiting from Ohio, said. “We can’t even get into no clubs. We can’t drink. You know, we spend all this money to come out here and have a good time, and it’s a bummer.”
“We just actually left from a bar not too long ago, so you can do things out here rather than Miami Beach,” Fort Lauderdale resident Mashonee Brun said.
Miami-Dade County has a curfew set in place during spring break. It runs from midnight to 6 a.m.
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