MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - As the spring break season approaches, Miami Beach commissioners gathered to strategize and implement measures aimed at curbing chaos and ensuring safety in the community, particularly in the popular South Beach entertainment district.
With March on the horizon, Wednesday’s meeting focused on a range of measures ensure safety in Miami Beach. Commissioners discussed several items, including limiting alcohol sales at night during the weekend, a spring break curfew, enforcing traffic infractions and expanding DUI checkpoints.
City officials said turmoil on the streets of South Beach of past years, widely documented by witnesses, has no place in Miami Beach.
Meiner said he is in contact with several law enforcement agencies to help with crowd control during spring break.
“We’re taking proactive measures now to make sure our DUI checks from the beginning, a robust law enforcement presence, including Florida Highway Patrol in addition to Miami Beach Police,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner.
Meiner also spoke about added safety implementations, including new parking rules.
“We’re gonna shut down our parking garages at 6 p.m., we’re gonna raise the parking rates to $100,” he said. “We are going to have some levels of secure perimeters to make sure that guns and weapons cannot get through … We’re going full force to make sure we don’t have the issues that we’ve had in the years past.”
As the commissioner meeting unfolded, leaders came forward with ideas for traffic control, which may include ferry and helicopter services.
“You have thousands of people on the streets. The volume’s too much, so we’re trying to keep it more manageable,” said Meiner.
The focal point for city leaders is to make South Beach safer for both residents and visitors.
Statistics reveal that over the past five years, there have been 22 shootings during spring break in Miami Beach, including three in 2023 and eight in 2022. Commissioners consulted with police chiefs at Wednesday’s meeting to ensure they are taking the proper steps.
“The plan we have in place has been vetted up and down with my senior staff, has been spoken to with the city manager and city senior leaders in the administration,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones, “and we’re very, very comfortable with it and confident that, if implemented the way we would like to implement it, will make a positive difference this year.”
On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at the Florida Sheriffs Association Conference, acknowledging the historical challenges faced by Miami Beach during spring break. He expressed support for local authorities and emphasized the need to maintain order during spring break.
“We’ve seen some of the things that have happened in Miami Beach. We have resources available. We want to work proactively with the local jurisdictions,” remarked Gov. DeSantis. “Spring break is what it is, but it should not be impeding the functioning of businesses in the area. It should not be impacting the quality of life of our residents. So, you have our support at the state level to do what you need to do to make sure the quality of life of your residents are maintained and order in the streets is maintained and businesses are able to function appropriately like they should.”
Mitch Novick, who owns the Sherbrooke Hotel on Ninth Street and Collins Avenue, spoke with 7News on the matter Wednesday. The key word for him is “peace.”
Novick said he’s not sure how things will play out, but he hopes it stays as quiet as possible and safe.
“I just hope you don’t have stampedes or shootings like we’ve had in recent years,” he said.
Meiner said he will be going up to Tallahassee to discuss specifics when it comes to numbers of state troopers who will be assisting Miami Beach Police during spring break.
City commissioners are expected to meet at the end of February to finalize details about the safety measures.
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