Spring Break pandemonium in Miami Beach leads to possible parking rate hikes

Miami Beach officials never want another spring break in South Beach like what happened over the weekend. “We had at least three stampedes,” Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel Oates said in a debrief meeting on Wednesday, according to 7 News Miami. “It felt like a fraternity party where everything goes.”

Police said that they made 74 arrests over the weekend, and crowds got out of control with 4,000 and 5,000 people climbing over barricades to get to the beach.

Proposals to calm things down next spring break include initiatives that range from removing all parked cars from Ocean Drive to hiking up parking rates during “high impact” weekends. “Everything ought to be on the table,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said.

• After spring break chaos, Miami Beach officials mull parking rate increase, liquor sale limits [7 News Miami]
• Huge spring break crowds overwhelmed South Beach. Officials want to avoid that again. [Miami Herald]