City of Miami Beach Declares Midnight Curfew

Miami Beach, FL - Citing widespread Spring Break crowds and a continued commitment to protecting public safety, the City of Miami Beach has imposed a weekend curfew from 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 15 until Monday, March 18 at 6 a.m.

“In consultation with our public safety leadership, we have determined that a midnight curfew is necessary and appropriate to assist in maintaining public safety on this Spring Break weekend,’’ said Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak. “We did not make this decision lightly, but it should not come as a surprise. We have been very clear about our intent to protect the public from the dangerous mayhem that has accompanied Spring Break crowds in recent years.”

The Miami Beach City Code grants the City Manager authority to impose discretionary emergency measures for up to 72 hours unless an extension is granted by the Miami Beach City Commission.

The City Commission passed a resolution last year endorsing the City’s intent to declare a curfew to protect public safety during Spring Break 2024. City leaders also have publicly warned local businesses to “expect curfews’’ during Spring Break 2024, particularly during this weekend, when South Beach historically has experienced the highest level of disturbance and violence.

The following emergency measures are being imposed:

• Effective each night from March 15, 2024 through March 18, 2024, from 11:59 p.m. until 6 a.m., a curfew will be imposed for that area of the city bounded by 23 Street and Dade Boulevard on the north (including properties fronting the north side of 23 Street or Dade Boulevard), Government Cut on the south, Biscayne Bay on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Businesses within the affected area must close sufficiently in advance of the curfew so patrons can avoid violating the emergency measures.
• Public safety officers will patrol the curfew area to ensure compliance by businesses, visitors and citizens. People will be asked to immediately vacate the streets and return to their homes, hotels or other accommodations.
• Businesses may continue to operate from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. for delivery services only, and all city residents requiring access to or from their homes, guests requiring access to or from their hotels, and employees of business establishments requiring access, including business deliveries, are permitted. The curfew does not apply to designated essential services, such as fire, police and hospital services, including the transportation of patients, utility emergency repairs and emergency calls by physicians. The curfew also does not apply to people traveling to work or returning to their homes after their work has concluded.
• The sale or distribution of any alcoholic beverage(s) for off-premises consumption — with or without payment — will be prohibited in the curfew area after 6 p.m. each day.

The curfew will be in effect in the following highlighted area:

Additionally, a Special Event Zone has been designated beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 15 until 7 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2024 for the following area: 17 St. on the North; Washington Ave. on the West; South Pointe Park on the South; the Erosion Control Line on the East; in addition to the entirety of 5 Street from MacArthur Causeway on the West to the Erosion Control Line on the East.

This zone includes Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue and all side streets within the designated area.

Within this zone, the city holds the authority to double fines for noncriminal traffic infractions and impound vehicles for violations.

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