Miami Beach officials are taking action and preparing for the influx of people who could arrive in the area this weekend amid their spring break.
With a plethora of events scheduled on Ocean Drive over the weekend, the city will increase the number of police officers patrolling all of South Beach.
Authorities remind those who reach the beach that smoking cigarettes or filtered tobacco products, as well as narcotics and marijuana, is prohibited.
They also do not admit large tents, tables or similar structures, nor loud music, large refrigerators, glass containers, absorbents or plastic straws.
“Residents, business owners and visitors can expect to see an increased police presence along the roads, Fifth Street corridor, Washington Avenue, Collins Avenue, Ocean Drive and the beach. “, City Manager Alina Hudak said in a memo.
Authorities said that for the last two weekends in March, police will use a mobile license plate reader along 5th Street as cars enter Miami Beach from the MacArthur Causeway.
City Mayor Dan Gelber recently said he wants mounted police to patrol Ocean Drive, which is closed to cars from 5th to 13th Streets from 4 a.m. today until 7 a.m. morning hours on Monday, March 20. .
In previous years, spring break has been a major source of tension in the city, which has seen shootings and violent incidents that have led authorities to impose curfews and shut down major thoroughfares in the city. to control crowds.