Is Miami Beach making up with spring break? Here’s how some visitors, residents feel

How is Miami Beach handling its much discussed “breakup” with spring break?

Well, it’s nearing the end of its first spring break weekend, and travelers and residents have begun to chime in on the new restrictions that have led to smaller crowds and quieter nights.

Some of the spring break restrictions Miami Beach has implemented this year include 6 p.m. beach closures, a large police presence, and mandatory 8 p.m. closures for liquor stores in the South Beach entertainment district.

It’s still early in the annual event, and South Beach was beginning to fill up Sunday evening, but it seems like the split has been pretty amicable — at least so far.

There’s room to walk on the sidewalks, no throngs at the Ocean Drive cafes, and far fewer beach umbrellas along the oceanfront between fifth and seventh and streets. One of the oddest sights this year involved a cowboy riding a horse along Ocean Drive.

And there’s more for vacationers beyond strolling down Ocean Drive. South Beach’s M2 hosted the Reggae Revolutions concert, featuring Third World, Inner Circle and Yohan Marley.

Here’s some reviews from the streets of South Beach:

Police on every corner

Nearly every street in South Beach is peppered with police officers from departments across South Florida, federal agents and state troopers. The overwhelming response is the “most law enforcement resources [Miami Beach has] ever implemented,” said police spokesperson Christopher Bess.

Since spring break began, officers have made more than 140 arrests, a 7% decrease from last year, Bess said. Some of those arrests were linked to the newly implemented sobriety checkpoints.

“Our message is very clear,” Bess said. “We’re not doing this to ruin anyone’s vacation plans... but to ensure public safety.”

In the evening, traffic slowed into Miami Beach from the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways as city officers and Florida Highway Patrol deputies began what Bess called a license plate reader detail.

After the license plates were scanned, officers were tipped off about wanted or missing persons and stolen vehicles, Bess said. Those drivers were pulled over, though others were flagged down due to traffic infractions. A frequent sight in the sea of halted vehicles were luxury sports cars.

“This is a preventative measure,” Bess said. “We are intercepting them here and do our due diligence to ensure our city stays safe.”

‘Worst time of the year’

For 43-year-old Jeremy Clubb, who has lived in Miami Beach for more than 12 years and “loathes” spring break, the changes are a welcomed sight.

“We lose control of our community, they put barriers up in the neighborhoods, it’s difficult to come and go from your own home. It just isn’t the right crowd,” said Clubb, who was relaxing with visiting family Sunday afternoon near the volleyball nets on Ocean Drive. “Maybe the bars and the entertainment and the nightclubs benefit economically but the residents don’t.”

Miami Beach, he said, is “built on tourism,” with beaches, nightlife and popular events including Art Basel and the Beach Polo World Cup drawing in thousands of people a year. Clubb, himself, owns a travel company, Rainforest Cruises, that specializes in trips across South America and Southeast Asia.

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But spring break, he said, is “the worst time of year” — with rowdy crowds and violent incidents. Plus, spring breakers leave the beach looking like a “landfill,” with trash also spilling into the ocean.

Last year, during a beach cleanup event in which he participated, Clubb witnessed some people returning to the beach, ripping open trash bags and dumping the litter onto the ground again, to find a pair of sneakers and a cellphone.

Did the spring breakers help pick up the trash?

“I think you know the answer,” he said.

‘Lower the crime, the better’

And not every visitor was there to party. In the sweltering Sunday heat, Wade Aaron, 35, walked along Ocean Drive, lugging a large, wooden cross over his shoulder.

He said he was on a mission to bear his cross to all 50 states. He said South Beach, where it is safe to say most spring breakers do not come looking for spiritual enlightenment, was stop No. 13.

“I believe it puts Jesus on people’s mind and makes people curious … it encourages other believers to obey God,” said Aaron, who said he runs a Texas-based ministry called Christ’s Reward. “It wasn’t something I wanted to do, but I submitted my will to the Lord,” Aaron added.

He said he chose to visit South Beach during spring break intentionally, thinking it would be similar to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Instead, he said he was pleased to find it much calmer, with stringent restrictions.

“I’ve been in some cities where there are no restrictions for events, and the city just gets torn to pieces,” he said. “Protecting people, protecting lives, because who knows how many people die, or overdose or get shot? I just think that the lower the crime, the better.”

Not scared off by past chaos

It was the first time Quangn Nguyen, 24, visited Miami Beach and the scalding heat is like “whiplash” compared to his home in Boston, where temperatures are forecast to plunge into the 30s Sunday night.

That would be frozen, falling iguanas type of weather in South Florida. But Nguyen won’t see any frozen iguanas during his four-day vacation in South Florida. Temperatures are forecast to be in the low 70s this week, with highs near or at 80.

And while Nguyen said did have some concerns about the spring break chaos Miami Beach is known for, he said it didn’t affect his travel plans. Neither did the recently announced restrictions that are meant to deter partygoers.

“Miami Beach is a huge place and we’re not going to spend like every day on the beach,” said Nguyen.

Previous spring break visitors to Miami Beach also aren’t too concerned about the new restrictions.

K. Jones, 31, Von Garside, 25, and Brampton Everson, 26, traveled to South Beach for the spring break weekend. The group of friends, who live in Atlanta, have visited Miami Beach in the past. For Everson, Ocean Drive is dead compared to previous spring break seasons. But it’s “still a vibe,” he said, even though it seems like any regular weekend. The group said they recommend visiting despite the restrictions — and would come back next year.

“I like it like this,” Garside said. “There’s not too many people.”

A dose of ‘nostalgia’

Mario Flores, a Texas high school teacher, and his wife Rose didn’t think twice about visiting Miami Beach, Rose’s hometown, for spring break.

The chaos of the cities last few spring breaks hadn’t crossed their mind, until the news began to report about the new restrictions. They decided to come anyway, and are glad they did. Visiting Miami Beach is “nostalgic” for Rose, and while she thinks the restrictions might be a bit too restrictive, it’s worked out great for the couple.

It’s not too crowded and rideshares haven’t been too expensive, she said.

They’re also glad they listened to the hotel and canceled their rental car. Parking is even pricier on the beach this month, with at least one garage charging up to a $100 flat fee.

This article may be be updated.