Miami Beach officials said Sunday the city will extend the issue of spending and closing until April 12 after a SWAT team was called in Saturday night to break up a rough crowd of springbreakers that challenged an 8 p.m.
City commissioners unanimously voted on it during an emergency meeting on Sunday. Interim city manager Raul Aguila, who recommended extending the evening clock, needed commission support to extend the evening clock beyond Tuesday.
Aguila told The Miami Herald that the measure was aimed at “containing the overwhelming crowd of visitors and the potential for violence, disruption and damage to property.”
The vote comes after law enforcers spread pepper spray balls in bulletproof jackets on Saturday to disperse groups that had descended thousands on the sunny South Beach, dump restaurants in the rubble and flood the streets without removing masks or socializing, despite COVID restrictions. .
City of Miami Beach Police officers are ready to enforce strict rules, part of the zero tolerance campaign Miami Beach Vacation Responsible because the spring break officially began on Saturday, February 20, 2021 in Miami Beach, Fla.
(Miami Herald via AP)
After days of partying – including several confrontations between police and large crowds – officials in Miami Beach ordered an emergency bell from 8pm to 6pm to force restaurants to stop outside during the three-day state of emergency and encourage local businesses to to close voluntarily. off.
On Saturday, a military vehicle was seen rolling down social media along Palm Tree Drive Ocean Drive while police officers in Miami Beach struggled too much to disperse the rioting crowds. Tourists are requested to stay inside their hotels and pedestrians or vehicles are not allowed to enter the restricted area after 20:00
SPRING BREAKERS IN MIAMI BEACH POWER POPULAR RESTAURANT TO CLOSE SAFETY MATTERS
Despite the evening clock, Ocean Avenue, the main strip of the city, was packed with entertainers beyond the deadline at 8 p.m. A SWAT team reportedly left the area around 20:45
Paul Acosta, assistant police chief at the Miami Beach police station, said the main part of Ocean Avenue was free of crowds shortly after 9 p.m.
Police officers in the city of Miami Beach are arresting several men in Ocean Drive and 10th Street as the spring break officially began on Saturday, February 20, 2021 in Miami Beach, Fla.
(Miami Herald via AP)
Miami Beach police enforced the curfew by blocking 16th Street Ocean Drive, Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue, reports WSVN 7 in Miami.
Eastern traffic on the city’s three main roads – the MacArthur, Julia Tuttle and Venetian – was shut down at 10pm and closed until 5am for non-residents, hotel guests or people going to work, according to the station .
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Miami Beach police said Sunday afternoon they have made more than 50 arrests and confiscated at least eight firearms since Friday.
Fox News reached out to Miami Mayor Dan Gelber and City Commissioner Michael Gongora with a request for comment, but they had not heard of it before publication.
Fox News’ Paul Best and The Associated Press contributed to this report.