Miami Beach announces enforcement measures ahead of spring break

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – As many college students are set to flock to Florida for warmer weather and partying often associated with spring break, the Miami Beach City Commission and Mayor Steven Meiner announced plans to prevent the fun from wreaking havoc.

“As your mayor, I am deeply committed to ensuring safety and progress with a sense of urgency,” Meiner said. “My goal every day is to enhance your quality of life and I am driven to implement positive and meaningful changes.”

Meiner highlighted his original safety plan to the Miami Today. The measures include heightened security and DUI checkpoints, as well as garage parking rates of $100 for non-residents.

The Miami Beach City Commission also approved an ordinance making it a criminal offense to smoke or posses recreational marijuana in public.

Sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the law removes an optional $100 civil penalty for people caught with 20 grams or less of marijuana or possessing drug paraphernalia.

“We’re shutting the door on spring break, re-criminalizing marijuana and imposing our strictest consequences for reckless behavior,” Fernandez said. “The anything-goes party atmosphere is over.”

According to Meiner, the optional penalty, put in place eight years ago, did not discourage people from lighting up in the city. Miami Beach Police also reported issuing few citations that led to arrests since its passage.

“The optional $100 civil penalty didn’t deter public marijuana use. Instead, people were emboldened to disregard our laws,” Meiner said. “Miami Beach enforces its laws reinforcing our commitment as a law and order city.”

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.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaking in Miami Beach on Feb. 5, affirmed his support to the city ahead of the expected rush.

Miami Beach, through its own Municipal Prosecution Program, is the only city in Miami-Dade County that prosecutes its own criminal municipal ordinance violations.

Smoking pot, in particular, carries a criminal penalty of up to 60 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.

Meiner also indicated steps to crack down on excessive noise. The plan increases placement of noise camera technology to monitor and enforce loud vehicles, including modified mufflers.

Furthermore, Meiner listed an extensive plan to disperse heavy traffic on the 7-mile island. They include deploying specialized traffic officers to critical areas to keep intersections clear and adding traffic lanes to ease congestion.

A long term plan for free ferry service to Miami and north/south throughout Miami Beach also is being considered.