Locals carry burden of Fort Lauderdale arrests during spring break, authorities say
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – While college students usually get the bad rap related to spring break disobedience, local party seekers have reportedly caused much of the trouble for Fort Lauderdale Police during the month of March.
According to the department, 15 of the 18 spring break related arrests as of Monday morning were from some area residents presumptively reliving their “glory days” around college-aged party goers in the city.
Of those incidents, four locals were booked on drug related offenses, four for cell phone thefts, two for disturbance and trespassing, and one on four counts of battery on a police officer. While often being the culprits, this year only two spring breakers were arrested on charges for disorderly conduct and one for battery on a law enforcement officer.
“As a part of FLPD’s proactive approach to spring break, we have maintained an increased police presence along Fort Lauderdale Beach and in our downtown entertainment district throughout the month of March,” the department said to Florida’s Voice.
While Fort Lauderdale, including its popular beach district, remained relatively peaceful, the department did see an increase in spring break related arrests from the prior year.
Once again, locals, not spring breakers, were seemingly the ones having a bit “too much fun.” Of the eight arrests in 2023, seven were from area residents from March 1-28.
While the stereotypical offenders were on better behavior, Fort Lauderdale’s spring break related crime still jumped 125%, regardless of the place they call home. The spike in party seekers, including mischievous locals, reportedly came from those heading north and away from the beefed up safety presence south in the Miami area.
“This year, we are experiencing larger crowds than in years past and as a result, we have had isolated incidents, such as disturbances and fights. Our officers have immediately responded to and dispersed the crowds involved in these incidents without issue,” the department continued.
Roughly 35 miles south, Miami Beach stepped up its safety plan in preparation for the spring break rush. The measures included heightened security and DUI checkpoints, as well as garage parking rates of $100 for non-residents.
City commissioners also voted to impose midnight curfews and a 6 p.m. closure of the beach in South Beach during the two weekends in March, often considered peak spring break dates.
The commission also approved an ordinance making it a criminal offense to smoke or posses recreational marijuana in public.
“We’re shutting the door on spring break, re-criminalizing marijuana and imposing our strictest consequences for reckless behavior,” Commissioner Alex Fernandez said. “The anything-goes party atmosphere is over.”
Across Fort Lauderdale, bars remained open per usual till 2 or 3 a.m. from the city’s popular Las Olas Boulevard to Elbo Room, situated on the corner of Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard.
According to police, three of the four cell phone thefts during Fort Lauderdale’s spring break were from Miami-area residents.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, echoing Fernandez’s position to the matter, issued a sweeping list of spring break safety protocols for Miami Beach and across Florida. Of his measures, DeSantis ordered 140 state troopers to assist 17 law enforcement agencies, including in the spring break hot spots of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
DeSantis also prefaced his remarks by calling Florida a “law and order state.”
Miami’s Ultra Music Festival, across from Miami Beach on Biscayne Bay, also remained relatively calm despite reportedly drawing 155,000 people over three days.
“What we don’t welcome is criminal activity. What we don’t welcome is mayhem and people that want to wreak havoc on our communities,” DeSantis said. “Make no mistake about it, if your coming here in order to enjoy Florida and to enjoy and have a good time fine, if your coming for these other reasons, if your committing crimes, causing havoc, you are going to pay the price.”
