Miami Beach Continues Measures to End Spring Break1
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 Press Release
Melissa Berthier, Email: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
Matt Kenny, Email: mattkenny@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2024 Miami Beach Continues Measures to End Spring Break
— Including parking garage closures, DUI checkpoints, restricted beach access and more —
Miami Beach, FL – Fed up with unruly crowds, lawless behavior and a string of violent acts in recent years, the City of Miami Beach is continuing the implementation of tough measures aimed at putting an end to spring break. These include restricted beach access, DUI
checkpoints, license plate readers, parking garage closures, and heightened police enforcement for consumption of alcohol in public, drug possession and violent behavior.
The entire month of March has been designated as a high-impact period in Miami Beach — with the anticipation that this weekend, March 14-17, will generate the largest spring break crowds. As such, additional measures are being implemented, including:
• Closures of parking garages and surface lots south of 42 Street to visitors beginning today through Monday, March 18 at 6 a.m.
Similar to last weekend, parking garage restrictions and flat fee parking rates do not apply to residents, access card holders, permit holders or employees with proper identification. Proof of
residency or employment (pay stub, letter, ID card, etc.) will be required upon entry.
• A $100 flat fee parking rate will be in effect for visitors at the 42 Street garage between Royal Palm and Sheridan avenues (G6).
• A License Plate Reader (LPR) detail on the eastbound lanes of the MacArthur and Julia
Tuttle causeways will be implemented by the Miami Beach Police Department on March 15-17. Motorists should expect significant traffic as eastbound travel lanes will be reduced on the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways. MBPD will also have an LPR
detail along the 5 Street corridor on March 22-24.
• A Driving Under the Influence (DUI) sobriety checkpoint will be in place along 5 Street on both March 15 and March 16.
• No sidewalk seating on Ocean Drive on March 15-17.
• Businesses renting or leasing golf carts, low-speed vehicles, autocycles (i.e. slingshots), motorized scooters, mopeds, motorcycles powered by motors of 50cc or less and motorized bicycles will be suspended from operating on March 14-17.
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• Ocean Drive will only be accessible to vehicles via 13 Street with a sole exit at 5 Street this weekend and March 21-24. Barricades will line Ocean Drive to reduce the potential of pedestrians coming into contact with motor vehicles.
• The nonresident towing rate will be $516 — double the normal rate — plus a $30 administrative fee for vehicles towed in South Beach within the boundaries of 23 Street and Dade Boulevard on the north (including properties fronting the north side of 23 Street or Dade Boulevard), Government Cut on the south, Biscayne Bay on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east.
• Beach entrances on Ocean Drive will be limited to 5, 10 and 12 streets and will have security checkpoints to ensure prohibited items do not enter the beach. These entrances will also close at 6 p.m. Coolers, inflatable devices, tents, tables and similar objects will not be permitted on the beach. Amplified music without a city-issued permit will also be restricted. As a reminder, alcohol and cigarette smoking are always prohibited on our beaches.
• Packaged liquor stores in the Entertainment District are always required to close at 8 p.m.
Traffic Plan The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) is implementing a traffic plan beginning at 6 p.m.
each Friday through Sunday in March to reduce traffic impacts around the South of Fifth (SOFI), West Avenue and Flamingo Park neighborhoods. Motorists can access the SOFI neighborhood via Alton Road, Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue. The Flamingo Park neighborhood can
only be accessed via Alton Road. Local access restrictions will be enforced on some city streets to limit traffic and improve mobility for residents and business patrons. Parking The city will conduct enhanced parking enforcement and increased towing throughout the month of March — with priority attention given to residential areas. Parking will not be allowed on Collins Avenue from 5 Street to Española Way and Washington Avenue from 5-16 streets starting at 5 a.m. on March 14-18 and March 21-24. Parking along the 100 blocks of 6-14 streets will be restricted 24 hours per day on March 14-17
and March 21-24. Residential Zone 5 parking permit holders are exempt from these restrictions, unless noted otherwise on signs.
Parking along the 200 blocks of 6-15 streets will be restricted nightly from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. on March 14-17 and March 21-24. Residential Zone 5 parking permit holders are exempt from these restrictions unless noted otherwise on signs.
Staffing Staffing levels for Miami Beach Police, Fire Rescue, Ocean Rescue, Code Compliance, Park Rangers, Parking and Sanitation is significantly enhanced throughout the month of March. MBPD is being supplemented by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami-Dade Schools Police Department and other
municipal law enforcement agencies.
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The Miami Beach Fire Department has augmented staffing, including Fire Inspectors who will be conducting nightly, weekend inspections for occupancy loads and life safety systems at
nightclubs and other establishments. Goodwill Ambassadors wearing pink “Take Care of Our City” T-shirts are deployed throughout
the Entertainment District to answer visitor questions, provide directions and give tips on how to enjoy the city. Miami Beach Trolley Service The Miami Beach free citywide trolley service is operating on an enhanced schedule this weekend, with additional vehicles operating on South Beach Loops A and B as well as two additional vehicles assigned to the Collins Express route. The enhanced trolley service will operate from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. on March 15-17. For additional information, visit www.miamibeachfl.gov/breakup. ###