Authorities in Miami Beach implemented a curfew on Sunday night in an effort to control rowdy, disorderly spring break crowds following two fatal shootings over the weekend.
The ban will mostly affect South Beach, a major spring break destination, from 11:59 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday, according to a city news release. A new curfew is anticipated to be introduced from Thursday through Monday, March 27.
Miami Mayor Warns Visitor Surge
On Sunday, Dan Gelber, the mayor of Miami Beach, warned that numerous visitors to the city have brought multiple firearms and “posed a threat that cannot go unchecked.”
“Despite an unprecedented police presence, Ocean Drive has been the scene of two consecutive nights of fatal gunshots. As part of our emergency powers, we will implement a midnight curfew for South Beach tonight, Sunday, March 19.
In addition to a midnight curfew, the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption will be restricted in the curfew region beginning today at 6:00 p.m.,” Gelber noted.
The city stated the curfew is an attempt to prevent the disorder from “very huge and unruly groups” and comes after two separate gunshots that left two people dead on Friday night and early Sunday morning.
“In our city, spring break is not requested. Our city does not desire spring break. It is too disorderly, too chaotic, and too impossible to regulate “Gelber stated in a Sunday-posted video.
Under the curfew, visitors must leave most businesses in the neighborhood by midnight, but residents, individuals going to work, and emergency services are exempt.
According to the city’s press statement, hotels and restaurants are permitted to remain open to serve their visitors. In addition, certain routes will be closed during the curfew, and hotel guests arriving during the curfew may be required to produce proof of their reservations.
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Local Government Takes Action
Two nighttime gunshots on Friday and Sunday spurred the municipality to take action. On Friday night, one male victim was tragically shot, while another was severely injured.
Crowds fled from restaurants and clubs into the streets in response to the gunfire.
The police made an arrest at the site. Also, authorities found four guns.
According to Miami Beach police, another gunfire occurred on Ocean Drive in South Beach at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.
A man was shot and later died at a hospital, and officers pursued a suspect on foot, as per police tweets. Similarly, the city enacted a midnight curfew in 2022 after two shootings on Ocean Drive.
Around 1,000 arrests were made and dozens of firearms were confiscated in 2021 as Miami Beach officials were compelled to take measures to quell unruly spring breakers.
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