Police Throw Pepper Balls To Enforce 2:33 Curfew
(CNN) -
An attempt to enforce an emergency curfew on spring break in Miami Beach last weekend turned into chaos.
But this weekend, city officials say they are prepared.
Authorities have extended the curfew and state of emergency in the city of Florida.
The restrictions include an 8 p.m. curfew in the entertainment district, a series of road closures aimed at slowing down traffic, and suspension of on-premises meals at restaurants and cafes in what authorities call the "High Impact Zone".
City officials outlined the emergency measures in a statement Tuesday, saying violators will be subject to arrest and criminal prosecution.
The restrictions will be lifted on March 29 at 6 a.m.
LOOK: Mayor of Miami Beach says that "the city is a lighter at this time"
Last Saturday, city police fired pepperballs in an attempt to break up a crowd of partiers, mostly without masks, on the city's main thoroughfares.
The aggressive enforcement action came just hours after Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber declared a state of emergency and established a curfew, saying the crowds that came to the city are "more than that we can handle.
Gelber told CNN's Boris Sánchez on Thursday that the city is now better prepared to handle vacationers.
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“We have brought in a huge contingent of policemen.
We have a curfew.
We are closing the roads at 10 pm to reduce the number of people here.
So we are hopeful, ”Gelber said.
But, of course, hope is not enough.
You have to have a plan, and I think we have a plan.
Some people 'just want to wreak havoc'
Miami Beach always draws huge crowds of spring breakers, but after a year of coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, the crazies seem to want to have a lot more fun.
"I don't think there is any doubt that the covid and that people were locked up and couldn't go anywhere has created a pressure that is easing in our city," Gelber said.
Governor Ron DeSantis may not have helped, as he previously bragged that the state is an "oasis of freedom" during the pandemic.
Gelber took note of the governor's words, but did not criticize him.
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People gathered as the 8 p.m. curfew goes into effect on March 21, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida.
(Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
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College students have arrived in the South Florida area for the annual spring break ritual, prompting city officials to impose an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
(Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
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Miami Beach police have reported hundreds of arrests and increased deployment to control the growing spring break crowds.
(Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
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Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber declared a state of emergency, saying that the crowds that have come to the city are "more than we can handle."
(Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
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The mayor of Miami Beach noted that the city is an attractive destination for travelers due to its good weather and open businesses, but it is still facing the pandemic.
1,000 infections are reported daily and between 50 and 100 people are admitted to hospitals each day in Dade County, Mayor Gelber said.
(Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
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More than 1,000 people have been arrested in Miami Beach since February 3 when spring break travelers arrived in the city, Miami Beach City Manager Raul Aguila said during an emergency commission meeting on Sunday.
(Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
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"Too many come, 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 bear," Mayor Gelber told CNN's Ana Cabrera.
(Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
"Well, it obviously didn't help that the governor declared this an 'oasis of freedom.'
But, you know, we have to deal with problems as they come to us.
So I don't really need to point the finger, ”he said.
The mayor said most of the partygoers have been good, but among them are "some who just want to wreak havoc, want to bring a gun or want to fight."
More than 50 people were arrested and eight firearms seized between Friday and Sunday, the Miami Beach Police Department tweeted.
The previous weekend, about 100 people were arrested and two officers were injured after unruly crowds, police said.
In all, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in Miami Beach since February 3, city manager Raul Aguila said at an emergency commission meeting Sunday.
Come to Miami, but don't be an 'idiot'
The Miami-Dade Community Relations Board urges visitors to remember that Miami is more than a vacation destination, it is also a community.
"Miami is a great place and that is why many of us live here, but visitors must remember that people live here and must be respectful of our laws and regulations, and understand that they might be different from the rules where they come from" board chairman John Quick told CNN.
Visitors are asked to abide by certain covid-19 restrictions and rules about where they can and cannot drink alcohol.
LOOK: Miami Beach police use pepper spray to enforce the curfew
City officials also want visitors to know that emergency measures apply primarily to the city's entertainment district.
“All other areas of Miami Beach are open for residents and visitors to go after the 8 pm curfew in the High Impact Zone, such as Lincoln Road, South of Fifth, Sunset Harbor, Collins Park, 41 Street , North Beach and more, ”the city said in a statement.
Mayor Gelber said he just wants people to have a good time and respect each other.
"If you come here, just come here to enjoy the things we have: our beaches, our restaurants, our places, realizing that there is a pandemic, so be careful," he said.
Come here for a fun and responsible vacation.
Don't come here to be an idiot.
CNN's Melissa Alonso and Ralph Ellis contributed to this report.
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