On Sunday, days before Music Week, the City of Miami Beach issued a state of emergency and set an 11:59 p.m. – 6 a.m. curfew following two deadly shootings this weekend. The first incident occurred on Friday night, resulting in one man killed and another injured, while the second shooting occurred early Sunday morning, with the victim eventually succumbing to his injuries at a hospital. In order to address this issue, city officials intend to set a similar curfew from Thursday to Monday to restore its citizens’ safety and security.
City officials will hold a special commission meeting on Monday at 4 p.m. to discuss restrictions.
Safety Measures for Sunday, March 19th:
- Effective Sunday, March 19, 2023 from 11:59 p.m. through 6 a.m., a curfew shall be imposed for that area of the City bounded by 23 Street and Dade Boulevard on the north (including properties fronting the north side of 23 Street or Dade Boulevard), Government Cut on the south, Biscayne Bay on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east (“the curfew area”).
- Businesses within the affected area shall close sufficiently in advance of the curfew in order to permit patrons to avoid violating the curfew.
- Commercial businesses must admit their last guests within a time frame that allows them to leave by 11:59 p.m. each night. Hotels may continue business operations past the curfew, provided they are servicing hotel guests only.
- Businesses other than hotels shall be permitted to continue to operate from 11:59 p.m. – 6 a.m. for delivery only. Takeout and pickup service is prohibited.
- The curfew shall not apply to the provision of designated essential services, such as fire, police and hospital services, including the transportation of patients thereto, utility emergency repairs, and emergency calls by physicians, and the curfew shall also not apply to persons traveling to their places of employment to report for work and to return to their residences after their work has concluded.
- All City residents requiring access to or from their homes, guests requiring access to or from their hotels, and employees / service providers of business establishments requiring access, including normally scheduled deliveries and janitorial services, shall be permitted. Residents are advised to return to the City prior to 11:59 p.m., in order to avoid any potential traffic delays once the curfew has taken effect. Hotel guests entering the City after the curfew is in place, may be required to show proof of lodging (such as a hotel reservation).
- All roads or traffic patterns within the curfew area may be closed or rerouted as deemed necessary by the City Manager or Chief of Police. In order to manage access to our residential neighborhoods, the following restrictions will be in place:
- Residents will be able to access the South of Fifth neighborhood via Alton Road, Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue only.
- Residents will be able to access the Flamingo Park neighborhood via Alton Road. No access will be granted from Washington Avenue.
- In addition to the existing License Plate Readers (LPR’s) along the main thoroughfares, mobile LPR’s will be utilized along the 5 Street corridor.
- Ocean Drive will re-open to traffic the evening of Sunday, March 19, 2023.
- All entry access to City-owned parking garages located within the designated curfew zone will be closed from 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. on Sunday, March 19, 2023 through Monday, March 20, 2023. Vehicles will be allowed to exit parking garages at all times. Resident and employee access card holders will be able to access parking garages at all times.
- The sale or distribution of any alcoholic beverage(s) for off-premises consumption, with or without payment or consideration, shall be prohibited in the curfew area after 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, 2023.
The possible impact on Music Week
This is frightening news to club owners, spring breakers, and Music Week attendees. Miami Music Week taking place March 21 – 26th, faces possible dilemmas if these curfews lock in for the intended Thursday – Monday. The safety measures could hold back certain clubs from staying open until their regular closing hour. Many events with later hours could be heavily affected by these new safety measures. Luckily, there are events during the day just in case anything is canceled. You can browse the Miami Music Week events on the web page.
Will the curfew effect Ultra?
The real question here is will the Miami Beach curfew affect Ultra Music Festival? If all the restrictions they imposed on Sunday, March 19th takes place
The decision that has to be made
The city of Miami Beach is faced with a heavy decision between the safety of its people and allowing them to have all their fun during Music Week. Due to the history of the yearly festivities in Miami Beach, the Mayor, Dan Gelber, is pushing for new restrictions and safety measures. Last year, the city imposed a midnight curfew following two Ocean Drive shootings. The year before that, there were about 1,000 arrests and dozens of guns confiscated during a rowdy spring break.
“We don’t ask for spring break in our city. We don’t want spring break in our city. It’s too rowdy, it’s too much disorder and it’s too difficult to police,”
Miami Beach Mayor, Dan Gelber