The party may be over in Miami Beach, which imposed a curfew on Thursday to stem a wave of violence linked to the influx of revelers to Florida for Spring Break.
In addition to a hard curfew for much of the party district which took effect at 11.59pm, the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption was halted from 6pm to 6am – measures that came after two horrifying shootings that left five people injured in recent days.
The curfew kicked in on Thursday night and will also be in effect on Saturday and Sunday, and could be extended next week as desperate officials attempt to reign in wild crowds.
Last year police, also imposed a curfew after arresting more than 1,000 people over the course of six weeks for street fights and vandalism.
Every year in the spring, hordes of partygoers take over the Miami Beach waterfront for late-night drinking parties that can quickly turn ugly.
Spring breakers are told to go home at 11:59PM in on Thursday in Miami Beach as curfew takes effect
Police cars line the empty streets as a strict curfew order comes into effect for Miami Beach
South Beach streets are left deserted and some establishments chose to board up their entranceways with wood. Spring breakers were told to go home at 11:59PM in on Thursday
Alcohol sales ended at 6PM. Most spring breakers didn’t seem to know there was an alcohol ban starting Thursday, and several were seen staring forlornly through the windows of liquor stores
Liquor stores warned customers of the new rules cracking down on the sale of carry-out booze
The party may be over in Miami Beach, which imposed a curfew on Thursday to stem a wave of violence linked to the influx of revelers to Florida for the tradition known as Spring Break
The curfew kicked in on Thursday night and will also be in effect on Saturday and Sunday, and could be extended next week as desperate officials attempt to reign in wild crowds
Miami Beach Police are seen at Ocean Drive as they prepared to enforce a midnight curfew in the Spring Break hotspot
Beachgoers enjoy a sunny day in Miami Beach on Thursday ahead of the new curfew
It is part of the collective college experience of generations of American students — but residents have increasingly opposed the social gatherings despite the contribution to the local economy.
The curfew, which covers the busiest area of the city including famous Ocean Drive, will last from midnight until 6.00am Thursday through Monday.
A 49-year-old bartender named Raul — he did not want to give his last name — said he supports the decision to declare a curfew.
‘This is not good for the business, but I agree with the authorities. Something needs to be done to guarantee public safety,’ he told AFP.
On Ocean Drive, Ebony McFarland, 27, said she is not keen on spending another spring break under curfew — she endured it last year, too — but is not surprised by the measure.
‘I definitely understand why they are having a curfew because it gets out of control. There are young people who come here and they don’t know how to act,’ said McFarland, who lives in Atlanta, 600 miles to the north.
A quieter scene was apparent as people walked on Ocean Drive during Spring Break in Miami Beach earlier on Thursday. Miami Beach has declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew to stem a wave of violence linked to Spring Break
People sit on the sidewalk on Ocean Drive during Spring Break in Miami Beach, Florida, on Thursday
Cyclists take a ‘selfie’ on Ocean Drive during Spring Break in Miami Beach as the curfew loomed
Revelers did venture out to take advantage of the city’s nightlife on Thursday, but the atmosphere was more subdued
Restaurants and bars could continue to sell alcohol after 6pm on Thursday, but off-premises sales were strictly banned
Some tables were even empty on Ocean Drive Thursday night as the new rules sent crowds seeking fun elsewhere
On Thursday afternoon, spring breakers continued to enjoy restaurants and bars, which closed down at midnight
New barricades have been installed Thursday along Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue in anticipation of renewed spring break gatherings this weekend. An 11:59PM curfew starts tonight and ends Monday due to the consistent rowdy atmosphere
New barricades have been installed Thursday along Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue to help restore order
The authorities announced the curfew on Monday after the shootings of last weekend.
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On Wednesday city hall announced it was adding a ban on alcohol sales in liquor stores and supermarkets in the busiest parts of town from 6.00pm until opening time the next day. This does not apply to bars and restaurants.
Marcus Gregory, a 24-year-old tourist from Houston, said the curfew is pointless.
‘I don’t understand how this is going to help. I don’t feel that it’s going to stop anything from happening,’ he said.
Stephen Hunter Johnson, a member of the Miami-Dade Black Affairs Advisory Board, said he sees race as a factor.
He said authorities have chosen Miami Beach for the curfew because the city draws a lot of black people.
‘The only emergency is that black people are on the Beach,’ he told the Miami Herald.
Miami Beach resident John Lee, 27, sitting on a bench by the beach, said his town is no different than any other.
‘I don’t think there is anything spectacular here. These things happen everywhere in the world every day. And they do nothing about it,’ Lee said.
The curfew kicked in on Thursday night and will also be in effect on Saturday and Sunday, and could be extended next week as desperate officials attempt to reign in wild crowds
Every year in the spring, hordes of partygoers take over the Miami Beach waterfront for late-night drinking parties that can quickly turn ugly
On Thursday, beach fans continued to enjoy all the Florida city had to offer, and seemed unbothered by the new curfew
In addition to a hard curfew for much of the party district which took effect at 11.59pm, the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption was halted from 6pm to 6am
The alcohol ban and curfew encompasses the city’s southern area between Dade Boulevard and Government Cut
The curfew comes after footage emerged of scores of spring breakers fleeing a shooting in Miami earlier this week.
The young partygoers were filmed running after Monday morning’s shooting, which took place on Ocean Drive around 1am.
They could be seeing fleeing in their swimwear as at least four shots rang out. Two women were injured, and are expected to recover.
The city’s latest curfew order states: ‘The sale or distribution of any alcoholic beverage(s) for off-premises consumption, with or without payment or consideration, therefore, shall be prohibited in the curfew area after 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2022, after 6 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022; and after 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2022.’
The orders come after five people were injured in two separate shootings, with nine officers injured so far in what is expected to be the largest spring break on record. But on Thursday, some party fans continued to enjoy all the Florida city had to offer, and seemed unbothered by the impending crackdown.
The city’s order came after Miami beach experienced two shootings within hours of each other on Sunday and Monday
The shots fired on Sunday night left two injured as cameras captured the moment spring breakers fled in terror
Spring breakers are celebrating their final moments after Miami city officials passed a ban on the sell of alcohol after 6 p.m. starting tonight and imposed a midnight curfew, which also begins tonight
Friends enjoyed a giant beverage topped with two Coronas a head of the night’s ban on alcohol
Sunday’s shooting took place on Ocean Drive, but the violence did not stop spring breakers from flocking back to area
Eren Wayne Jr. is pictured showing off his snake around his neck as he enjoys the final days of spring break
And despite the shootings, State Rep. Michael Grieco, a Democrat, viewed the curfew as an overreach, saying, ‘The state of emergency is an abuse of governmental power, and it scares the c**p out of me.’
‘It can be interpreted as a way to do an end-around on the recent order by Judge Butchko,’ Grieco added referencing Miami-Dade Judge Beatrice Butchko decision to strike down a temporary ban twice after the Clevelander Hotel took the city to court due to rowdy visitors back in November.
Melba Pearson, a civil rights attorney, said: ‘Everything I’ve observed has been peaceful, just kids trying to have a good time, that’s all I’ve been seeing.’
Despite the sporadic violence, she doesn’t see a need for a curfew.
‘It’s an absolute overreaction,’ she told the Miami Herald. ‘Not to trivialize people being harmed or shot, but you have to have a balanced approach to issues of criminal justice and law enforcement.’
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