Spring break crime plummeted in Florida hot spot after warning goes viral
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner took office at the end of 2023, after years of spring break turmoil that left local businesses in shambles and residents irked.
After working with city, county and state authorities to curb chaos during spring break in 2024, the city's comprehensive "Reality Check" campaign came to life in 2025.
"I mean, we had [in] the prior years literally killings on our street," Meiner told Fox News Digital. "We had other shootings, basically modified stampedes, just from literally a level of lawlessness and chaos – jumping on police cars – it was just not tolerable."
Florida Spring Break Destination Town Done With College Crowds: 'That Time Is Over'
"And this year, the follow-up was the same measures," Meiner said. "Same police presence, same result again for the governor came down for a press conference here, and it was a reality check. This is the reality of what's going to happen here if you don't play by the rules."
Read On The Fox News App
The "Reality Check" video, viewed more than 53,000 times since it was posted on Feb. 4, shows an eager cast of spring break characters ready to run amok in the city. Along the way, they are disappointed to learn that Miami Beach has strict rules for spring breakers and plans to enforce those rules, leaving them disappointed.
Miami Beach Spring Break Crackdown Sends Partiers Packing To Other Beach Towns
Those rules ranged from enforcing volume levels of speakers on the beach to implementing security and DUI checkpoints citywide. Throughout spring break, there was a citywide 6 p.m. curfew and $100 parking fees, which made it cost prohibitive for some partiers to access hot spots.
The city enlisted state troopers and county police to help local police enforce the strict rules.
"I'd come back to Miami Beach, just not for spring break," a cast member says at the end of the video.
Florida Spring Break: Fort Lauderdale Welcomes Partiers As State Sends More Police To Vacation Hotspots
Meiner couldn't be happier with the results.
"The results have been phenomenal," Meiner said. "I mean success at every level you measure it. No killings, no shootings, no major incidents, no stampedes. I can tell you … literally from the hoteliers to restaurants to businesses, everyone's appreciative. And literally, almost universally, our businesses are very appreciative of the steps we took, and [it was] a major success for our city."
Residents are thrilled with the outcome too, according to Meiner.
"And it's just amazing," he said. "No matter where you go in our city, even people who live, you know, six, seven miles away from where the activity took place, nobody wanted to see their city viewed in a negative light. They're so appreciative."
Miami Beach is not the only city looking to cast off its chaotic spring break reputation.
Panama City Beach Mayor Stuart Tettemer told Fox News Digital that his city has upped its spring break crime deterrence efforts.
"Panama City Beach has taken aggressive steps to maintain order during the Spring Break period, including targeted evening beach closures, enhanced enforcement zones, mutual aid partnerships, and public-private screening efforts at Pier Park," Tettermer said.
"PCB is committed to law and order, acting swiftly with law enforcement to keep the community safe and family-friendly, and working with responsible businesses to ensure the unruly spring break legacy stays in the past."Original article source: Spring break crime plummeted in Florida hot spot after warning goes viral
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Terrified passengers 'flew out of their seats' during dramatic Southwest nosedive to avoid mid-air crash
Passengers aboard Southwest flight 1496 from Burbank to Las Vegas experienced a frightening few seconds when the aircraft took a sudden nosedive to avoid a midair collision shortly after takeoff. The dramatic maneuver caused passengers to fly up out of their seats and into the ceiling as children and adults screamed, fearing the worst. Passengers reported at least one flight attendant was injured, though the airline has not yet confirmed any details about the incident. Caitlin Burdi, who was on flight 1496 to Vegas, told Fox News Digital she had been on the same flight path before, so she knew the extreme turbulence was abnormal. "About 10 minutes into the flight, we plummeted pretty far, and I looked around, and everyone was like, 'OK, that's normal'," Burdi said. "Then, within two seconds, it felt like the ride Tower of Terror, where we fell 20 to 30 feet in the air. The screaming, it was terrifying. We really thought we were plummeting to a plane crash." One flight attendant was dazed after hitting her head, passengers said. Another flight attendant announced he was quitting. Following the dramatic drop, the pilot came on the intercom and said the plane almost collided with another plane, and they had lost air traffic control signal. "It was absolutely terrifying," Burdi said. "I just remember him saying, 'What just happened was we almost collided with another plane, and I had to make the emergency attempt to go under because we lost service with the air traffic controller.'" Other passengers on the fearful flight took to social media to share their experience. "Myself & Plenty of people flew out of their seats & bumped heads on ceiling, a flight attendant needed medical attention," stand-up comedian Jimmy Dore wrote in an X post. "Pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid plane coming at us. Wow." Southwest Airlines did not immediately respond to further inquiries from Fox News Digital.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘30s star Will Rogers was ‘highest-paid actor' at the time of his plane crash death but it wasn't his passion
Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, Rogers' great-granddaughter, tells Fox News Digital that he always wanted to be a cowboy.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘30s star Will Rogers got into Hollywood after making off-the-cuff remark while trick-roping in live show
Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, Rogers' great-granddaughter, tells Fox News Digital about the highest-paid actor of his time.