Miami Beach will once again enact special rules during the Spring Break period in March.  While these rules are intended to squash the wild and crazy behavior that gave Miami Beach a black eye during past springs breaks, it also impacts locals, including Miami Springs residents who enjoy going to Miami Beach just 15 minutes away.  So let’s take a quick look at the restrictions enacted by Miami Beach…

The periods between March 13-16 and March 20-23 are expected to generate the largest spring break crowds this year. As such, more stringent measures will be implemented during these two weekends, including:

  • Parking garages and surface lots south of 23 Street will be closed, including the garages at
    • 7 Street and Collins Avenue (G1)
    • 12 Street and Washington Avenue (G2)
    • 13 Street and Collins Avenue (G3)
    • 16 Street between Collins and Washington avenues (G4)
    • 17 Street and Convention Center Drive (G5)
    • 18 Street and Meridian Avenue (G7)
    • Lincoln Lane North and Pennsylvania Avenue (G9)
    • 23 Street and Park Avenue (G12)

LOCAL TIP FOR SPRINGS RESIDENTS:

Use State Road 112 east towards the Julia Tuttle Causeway and park at the public lot located next to the Eden Roc Hotel.  Get there early before the lot fills up!  You can take an Uber as well, but it will be expensive during Spring Break.  Don’t take the MacArthur Causeway.

  • A $100 flat fee parking rate will be in effect for visitors at the Sunset Harbour Garage on 19 Street and Bay Road (G10) and the 42 Street garage between Royal Palm and Sheridan avenues (G6).
  • Parking garage and surface lot closures as well as flat-fee parking rates do not apply to Miami Beach residents, access card holders, permit holders or Miami Beach employees. For regular rates to apply, proof of Miami Beach residency or employment (pay stub, letter, ID card, etc.) will be required upon entry.
  • Sidewalk seating on Ocean Drive will be closed on March 14-16 and March 21-23.
  • The Miami Beach Police Department will implement a License Plate Reader (LPR) detail on the eastbound lanes of the MacArthur Causeway on March 14-16, March 21- 23 starting at 8 p.m. (with set up at 7 p.m.) and on the eastbound lanes of the Julia Tuttle Causeway on March 14-16, March 21-23 starting at 9 p.m. (with set up at 8 p.m.). Motorists should expect significant traffic impacts and delays as eastbound travel lanes will be reduced on the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways. MBPD will also have an LPR detail along the 5 Street corridor on March 7-9 starting at 7 p.m. (with set up commencing at 6 p.m.). License Plate Readers have historically been instrumental in the identification of serious and violent offenders as well as the recovery of stolen vehicles.
  • A DUI sobriety checkpoint will be in place along the 400 block of 5 Street starting at 7 p.m. (with set up commencing at 6 p.m.) over March 14-15 and March 21-22.
  • Businesses renting or leasing golf carts, low-speed vehicles, autocycles (i.e. slingshots), motorized scooters, mopeds, motorcycles powered by motors of 50 cubic centimeters or less and motorized bicycles will be suspended from operating on March 13-16 and March 20-23.
  • Ocean Drive will only be accessible to vehicles from the most northern available street with a sole exit at 5 Street on March 6-9, March 13-16 and March 20-23. Barricades will line the west side of Ocean Drive to reduce the potential of pedestrians coming into contact with motor vehicles.
  • The nonresident towing rate will be $516 — double the regular rate — for vehicles towed in South Beach.
  • Beach entrances on Ocean Drive will be limited to 5, 10 and 12 streets and will have security checkpoints to ensure prohibited items are not brought onto the beach. These entrances will close at 6 p.m. Coolers, inflatable devices, tents, tables and similar objects are not permitted on the beach. Amplified music without a city-issued permit will be restricted. As a reminder, alcohol and smoking are always prohibited on city beaches.
  • Packaged liquor stores in the Entertainment District will strictly adhere to the 8 p.m. regular closing time.
  • The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) will implement a traffic plan beginning at 6 p.m. each Thursday through Sunday to reduce traffic impacts around the South of We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community. Fifth (SoFi), West Avenue and Flamingo Park neighborhoods. Motorists can access the SoFi neighborhood via Alton Road, Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue. The Flamingo Park neighborhood can only be accessed via Alton Road. Local access restrictions will be enforced on some city streets to limit traffic and improve mobility for residents and business patrons.

Every Thursday through Sunday on the first (Feb. 27- March 2), second (March 6-9) and fifth (March 27-30) weekends in March, the following high-impact measures will be in place:

  • A flat parking rate of $30 will be in effect at city parking garages and surface lots in South Beach, including the garages at 7 Street and Collins Avenue (G1), 12 Street and Washington Avenue (G2), 13 Street and Collins Avenue (G3),16 Street between Collins and Washington avenues (G4), 17 Street and Convention Center Drive (G5), 42 Street garage between Royal Palm and Sheridan avenues (G6),18 Street and Meridian Avenue (G7), Lincoln Lane North and Pennsylvania Avenue (G9), 19 Street and Bay Road (G10), and 23 Street and Park Avenue (G12) — with entry to garages closing at 6 p.m. to all visitors. The flat parking rate and 6 p.m. entrance restriction does not apply to Miami Beach residents, access card holders or authorized Miami Beach employees. For regular rates to apply, proof of Miami Beach residency or employment (pay stub, letter, ID card, etc.) will be required upon entry.
  • The nonresident towing rate will be $516 — double the regular rate — for vehicles towed in South Beach.
  • Beach entrances on Ocean Drive will be limited to 5, 10 and 12 streets and will have security checkpoints to ensure prohibited items are not brought onto the beach. These entrances will close at 6 p.m. Coolers, inflatable devices, tents, tables and similar objects are not permitted on the beach. Amplified music without a city-issued permit will be restricted. As a reminder, alcohol and smoking are always prohibited on city beaches.
  • Packaged liquor stores in the Entertainment District will strictly adhere to the 8 p.m. regular closing time.
  • The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) will implement a traffic plan beginning at 6 p.m. each Thursday through Sunday to reduce traffic impacts around the South of Fifth (SoFi), West Avenue and Flamingo Park neighborhoods. Motorists can access the SoFi neighborhood via Alton Road, Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue. The Flamingo Park neighborhood can only be accessed via Alton Road. Local access restrictions will be enforced on some city streets to limit traffic and improve mobility for residents and business patrons.

On-Street Parking
The city will conduct enhanced parking enforcement and increased towing throughout the month of March — with priority attention given to residential areas.

Parking will not be allowed on Collins Avenue from 5 Street to Española Way and Washington Avenue from 5-16 streets starting at 5 a.m. on March 6-10, March 13-17 and March 20-24.

Parking along the 100 blocks of 6-15 streets will be restricted 24 hours per day on March 6-10, March 13-17 and March 20-24. Residential Zone 5 parking permit holders are exempt from these restrictions, unless noted otherwise on signs.

Parking along the 200 blocks of 6 Street through Española Way will be restricted 24 hours per day on March 6-9, March 13-16 and March 20-23. Residential Zone 5 parking permit holders are exempt from these restrictions unless noted otherwise on signs.

MORE LOCAL TIPS

While the City of Miami Beach is cracking down on spring break, many of us still enjoy Miami Beach and/or have our own college kids returning home for spring break.  And guess what, they’re going to want to enjoy the warm weather and beautiful beaches that are just 15 minutes away.

Here are our tips for enjoying the beach during spring break.

  1. Head to Key Biscayne.  Skip the drama.  Same ocean.  Same waves.  Same weather.  Same suntan.  Choose from Bill Baggs State Park (aka El Farito) or Crandon Park.
  2. Take an Uber to South Beach.  It’ll be pricey, especially during peak hours, but it’s cheaper than the $100 parking and way cheaper than the $516 tow rate.
  3. Have a friend or relative drop you off and pick you up.  “Abuelita…me puedes llevar a la playa?”
  4. The nearest beach to Miami Springs is mid-Beach on Miami Beach.  “Oh my God.  Literally, it’s like 15 minutes away, bro.”  We recommend parking near the Eden Roc, but get there early.
  5. Park by the Convention Center or Lincoln Road and take an Uber or simply walk to the long walk to the beach.
  6. Bike to the beach.  The fastest route to bike to the beach is east on NW 36th Street. After you pass Biscayne Boulevard, continue east onto the Julia Tuttle highway.  Cyclists are allowed to use this road along the shoulder.  If you want a safer route, detour south towards the Venetian Causeway to reach the island. Depending on your skill level as a cyclist, it’ll take you anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half to get there.
  7. Metrorail.  You can take the rail to downtown.  Then you can either walk, bike, or Uber to the beach.  We still don’t have a train to the beach, but until then, this is still a viable option.

Other alternative beaches include:

  • Mid-Beach
  • North Beach
  • Sunny Isles
  • Haulover
  • Hallandale
  • Hollywood

Excessive out of control partying has forced the City of Miami Beach to get strict during spring break.  But that doesn’t mean that the local youth of Miami Springs can’t still enjoy a day or even a week on the beach as many of us did when we were young.

Welcome home spring breakers.  Have a safe time enjoying the beach.

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