The 8 p.m. curfew for Miami Beach’s famed entertainment district is now in effect.
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – The 8 p.m. curfew for Miami Beach’s famed entertainment district is now in effect.
The party is over and police will be issuing fines to those not following COVID-19 restrictions.
These new restrictions are being imposed due to large gatherings of young people on Ocean Drive and across South Beach amid a rising number of coronavirus cases.
South Beach is normally the life of the party — but now — that’s not the plan.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said he sees people not wearing masks and hanging out in groups, all things that are against the COVID 19 regulations.
“There has been some adherence to the mask rules, not nearly enough. At some points, it was resembling a bit of a party, an outdoor party. We can’t have anything resembling Bourbon Street right now in our community,” said Gelber.
Beginning this weekend, expect 20 additional Miami Beach police officers on the street — along with more than a dozen officers from Miami-Dade. Park rangers and code enforcement are out too. The idea is to educate people about the rules and if that doesn’t work — get tougher.
“But I think we’re going to have to go to that next if we just aren’t getting significant compliance and actually give people a ticket, a 50 dollar ticket for not wearing a mask,” said Gelber.
“We came from Bogalusa, Louisiana. It’s my birthday!” said Richelle Short.
Short and her friends were hoping for a fun birthday weekend, but are well aware of the rules and curfew and that’s OK with them.
