Miami Beach Takes Extra Measures to Ensure a Safe Weekend

(Miami Beach, FL) Jul 24, 2019 -

The City of Miami Beach is expecting to welcome a large number of visitors this upcoming weekend as a result of the “Miami Takeover” event, along with other events being heavily promoted on social media.  In preparation for these happenings scheduled to take place in the entertainment district, the city is implementing a comprehensive and coordinated plan to ensure visitors can enjoy the beaches, while maintaining safety and resident quality of life.

The City Manager is imposing certain immediate measures in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, pursuant to Ordinance 2019-4266, as codified in Section 82-443 of the City Code.  The duration of the following immediate measures shall be from Friday, July 26, 2019 at 7 a.m. through Monday, July 29, 2019 at 7 a.m., and include:

  • The prohibition of coolers and inflatable devices on public beach property; and
  • The prohibition of tents, tables, and similar structures; and
  • The limitation of live or amplified music; and
  • The limitation of traffic routes to prohibit vehicular access to non-residents, and permit access only for residents and those patrons and employees of businesses located in the specific area where traffic routes have been limited; and
  • The establishment of occupancy limits for different segments of public beach property, and prohibiting access to those areas that have reached those occupancy limits; and
  • The prohibition of any direct or indirect consumption of alcohol on public beach property; and
  • The implementation of a license plate reader police detail, which may be utilized on eastbound traffic lanes of the MacArthur Causeway and on any other access points into the City; and
  • The suspension of all business tax receipt(s) issued to promoters for any dance or entertainment event(s) to be held at an alcoholic beverage establishment located in the MXE mixed use entertainment district (excluding that portion of the MXE located between 73 and 75 streets) or in that portion of the CD-2 commercial, medium intensity district between Pennsylvania Avenue and Collins Court, from 5 Street to 16 Street.

While the City Manager may suspend or close all or part of sidewalk café operations (including, without limitation, the removal of any or all sidewalk café furniture) pursuant to 82-443(b)(9) of the City Code, at this juncture, no such suspension or closure has been imposed. The city’s Police, Fire, Parking and Code Compliance Departments, as well as the Sanitation and Beach Maintenance Divisions, are authorized to implement additional operational measures, as necessary. Any violation of the imposed measures shall be punished as provided in City Code Section 1-14.