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.
TravelMole Editorial Team
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.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025