Miami Beach officials are planning a series of tough measures to deter partygoers after a hectic Spring Break weekend that saw police cut off incoming traffic to limit the crowds.
Plans put forward by commissioners include limiting alcohol sales, banning scooter rentals and even playing classic music ‘that spring breakers would hate’ to break up the party.
Another suggestion is for the state to reverse its policy of letting off marijuana smokers with fines and arresting them instead.
Miami Beach commissioners are considering tough new measures to control the spring break crowds. Pictured: A boy in the group mugs for the camera with the joint to his lips
A group of women walk along the white sands of Miami Beach alongside crowds several thousand strong in a photo taken on Wednesday
The ideas were suggested at a brainstorming session at a commission meeting on Wednesday, the Miami Herald reported.
Officials are keen to control crowds after a chaotic few days which saw 35 arrests on Friday, 53 on Saturday and 41 on Sunday – the majority for being drunk and disorderly.
More than 5,000 college kids descended on Miami’s white sands, with many twerking in full view of parents and their young children, smoking joints and passing out drunk on the sand.
Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez called for ‘something radical’, before reeling off a list of composers including John Philip Sousa and Mozart who could be played at high volume over loudspeakers.
Commissioner Ricky Arriola suggested the state’s weed legislation, which was adopted in June 2015 to cut costs, should be re-examined.
‘We should look at our marijuana policy,’ he said. ‘There was some wisdom behind why we did it, but we might need to revisit it.’
The ideas were suggested at a brainstorming session at a commission meeting on Wednesday. Pictured: A group of women pose for the camera while enjoying their Spring Break
More than 5,000 college kids descended on Miami’s white sands, with many smoking joints, as seen in this image taken on Wednesday
Three women in skimpy bikinis make their way down the beach in Miami on Wednesday
Legislation to ban scooter rentals in particularly busy periods has already been drafted and will be voted on at a later meeting.
City Manager Jimmy Morales proposed over steps to be discussed later, including restricting venues that could sell alcohol and bringing in more police officers.
Despite alcohol being banned on the beach, many Spring Breakers were spotted swigging from bottles of tequila and brandy, as well as beer bought from stores on nearby Ocean Drive.
Drug dealers were spotted openly plying their trade on the beach, despite the penalty being jail time of five years for those with more than 20g of the substance on their person and a $5,000 fine.
There students were among many seen casually smoking marijuana on Wednesday
City Manager Jimmy Morales proposed over steps to be discussed later, including restricting venues that could sell alcohol to control the crowds, pictured Wednesday
Despite the stiff penalties linked to smoking drugs, students spoken to by DailyMail.com appeared unconcerned.
Jessica, Susan, Margie and Felicia, all 21, who said they were University of Iowa students, were seen casually smoking weed on the beach with their friends.
Jessica said: ‘We’ve been drinking vodka and smoking joints. All the other Spring Breakers come here to the beach too so it’s really cool.’
She added: ‘We’re here until Friday. We’re planning to go to the beach every day and party every night.
‘Don’t make us look too bad by the way – we do want to get jobs one day.’
Despite the stiff penalties linked to smoking drugs, students spoken to by DailyMail.com on Wednesday appeared unconcerned
Officials are keen to control crowds (pictured on Wednesday) after a chaotic few days which saw 35 arrests on Friday, 53 on Saturday and 41 on Sunday