MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - The City of Miami Beach has begun stepping up security ahead of what is expected to be one of the busiest weekends of the year, and visitors in town for spring break weighed in about the new safety precautions.
7News cameras captured drivers being turned away at the entrance of the parking garage on Collins Avenue and Seventh Street, Thursday afternoon.
Parking is a problem for visitors coming to South Beach. From Thursday at 6 a.m until Monday at 6 a.m., over the next two weeks, the city’s garages and surface lots will only be open to residents and city employees.
Visitors David, Samuel and Ike weighed in on the parking restrictions while strolling near Ocean Drive, where barricades were already put up on Thursday to prevent people from crossing in the middle of the street.
“Uber is definitely going to make a lot of money,” said one of the visitors.
The young men said they were already aware of the stepped up security and opted against driving themselves to South Beach.
After the sun went down on Thursday, the crowds seem calmer and smaller than on previous years. Some spring breakers said they’re slightly disappointed, but city officials said that’s their goal.
The safety precautions are part of the city’s “Spring Break Breakup” measures. The city posted a video online about the steps they’re taking to keep the peace this year.
Last March, two people were killed and police arrested 573 people, so the city is working to curb the chaos of prior years.
Raheem, who is visiting from Toronto, said the police presence is impossible to miss.
“Lots of police on the strip. You can see them patrolling and all that,” he said.
Officers were seen driving by in cruisers and on four-wheelers, as they worked to keep everyone safe, and especially out of the road.
“It’s pretty wild, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” said Raheem.
All roads to Ocean Drive are blocked off besides 13th Street. People can use it to reach the iconic street and head south.
Along Ocean Drive, sidewalk seating will close at restaurants this weekend and next weekend, but “goodwill ambassadors” will be in the area providing helpful information.
From Ocean Drive, visitors are only allowed walk to the sand from the Fifth, 10th and 12th street entrances, and all beaches will close to the public at 6 p.m.
As for the enhanced police presence this weekend, it will include 60 additional state troopers in South Florida. Forty-five of these troopers will come straight to South Beach.
“It’s kind of wild to see, because Miami is usually the place to be for spring break,” said Raheem.
“I thought it was gonna be, like, way more, like, better,” said Daniel, a student at the University of South Carolina.
A calm kickoff to the expected busy weekend ahead is exactly that law enforcement officials want.
“I thought there was going to be more people out on the beach or, like, late night, there would be more people out here,” said Daniel, “but it’s not, because they got Feds all over the place.”
Even so, some visitors can see the benefits.
“What happened last year can’t happen again, so, again, there’s procedures that, like, have to happen,” said a friend of Daniel.
“The rowdiness in the crowds has kind of died down, so we like it, being three girls traveling alone, we kind of feel like it’s kind of deterred some of the negativity away,” said a visitor who identified herself as Natalie.
“We think it’s, like, safer, feel very comfortable, just three girls walking around,” said Natalie’s friend.
Some visitors said the message from “Spring Break Breakup” is reaching the masses.
“There’s lot’s of posts on Instagram about not coming here for spring break,” said Raheem.
“It’s just different, but I’ll find some type of way to have fun, so,” said Joe, another student from the University of South Carolina.
Starting Friday, city officials warn drivers to expect significant traffic delays coming over the causeways to Miami Beach. There will also be license plate readers on the causeways to Miami Beach, as a well as a DUI checkpoint along Fifth Street.
In addition, the towing rate is doubling for non-residents to $516.
“I like the laws that they put in place. Obviously, it would be nice to still have some fun, but have fun safely,” said David.
If things get out of hand, city officials said, they plan to enforce curfews, as well as bag checks at beach access points and security checks around the area.
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