Miami Beach extends curfew after spring break party ‘chaos’
The party is over for unruly spring break crowds who descended on Miami Beach.
Miami Beach city leaders have extended a curfew for up to three weeks following chaotic scenes that led to more than 1,000 arrests, trashed restaurants and a refusal by most to wear masks.
It also closed three causeways overnight to stop more partygoers arriving. Only Miami Beach residents are exempt.
It ordered a curfew from Saturday at 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. as even assistance from SWAT teams couldn’t contain large unruly crowds.
Police even fired pepper spray balls to try to disperse people, while there were sporadic sounds of gunfire which further panicked crowds and residents.
More than half of the 1,000 arrests were out of state visitors, said City Manager Raul Aguila, who came to ‘engage in lawlessness and an anything goes party attitude.’
After several days of concern as crowds gradually swelled during last week, police said the partying was out of control by Friday night.
"Too many are coming, really, without the intention of following the rules, and the result has been a level of chaos and disorder that is more than we can endure," Miami Beach mayor Dan Gelber told CNN.
The curfew covers Thursday through Sunday in the main strips of Ocean Drive, Washington Avenue, Collins Avenue and Española Way from 5th to 16th streets.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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