Looks like the parties might be over. Miami Beach will impose an 8 p.m. curfew on its entertainment district beginning Saturday and continuing for the next three days after spring break parties spiraled out of control earlier this week.
via: The Grio
Officials are imposing an emergency 8 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew for Miami Beach, effective immediately after hard partying Spring Breakers trashed restaurants, brawled in the streets and gathered by the thousands without masks or social distancing, according to authorities.
At a news conference, officials blamed overwhelming and out-of-control spring break crowds for the curfew, which was taking effect Saturday night in South Beach, one of the nation’s top party spots. Tourists and hotel guests are being told to stay indoors during curfew hours.
It’s unclear how long the curfew will remain in effect, but Interim City Manager Raul Aguila told the Miami Herald that he recommends keeping the rules in place through at least April 12. A countywide midnight curfew was already in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These crowds are in the thousands,” Aguila said. “We’re at capacity.”
No pedestrians or vehicles will be allowed to enter the restricted area after 8 p.m. and all businesses in the vicinity must close, Aguila said, reading from a statement released by the city.
The curfew comes as a prominent bar, the Clevelander South Beach, announced it was temporarily suspending all food and beverage operations until at least March 24 after crowds crammed Ocean Drive, breaking out into street fights. At another restaurant next door, tables and chairs were smashed during a fight, news outlets reported.
At the same time, local officials banned alcohol from the beach, along with all alcohol sales after 10 p.m. in an effort to curb partying. The city even sent cellphone text messages to tourists warning, “Vacation Responsibly or Be Arrested.”
Miami Beach has declared a state of emergency because Ron DeSantis prematurely declared a victory over COVID-19 and they're a Spring Break disaster right now.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!?? (@mmpadellan) March 20, 2021
But local officials have struggled to enforce COVID ordinances. Under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ pro-business stance, Florida has no statewide mask rules, limits on capacity or other such restrictions.
Last night in Miami Beach… #BecauseMiami #SpringBreakForever pic.twitter.com/HWeRiGyDwj
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) March 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/leilaa_munoz/status/1373002591030935552?s=20
https://twitter.com/DoNotLose/status/1373067301499572226?s=20
Spring break partying – Miami South beach. This isn’t going to end well next month. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/8VNplhYvbO
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) March 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/lilplutho/status/1372986785840689153?s=20
A friend of mine recorded this in Miami Beach during spring break last night. https://t.co/YHqjMB8eFL
— Grant Stern ? (@grantstern) March 19, 2021
https://twitter.com/kingdeficit/status/1373325026854850564?s=20
Spring Break has always been crazy, this is just what happens when people have been in the house for a year.
