Fort Lauderdale officials urge spring break visitors to follow laws to stay safe
FORT LAUDERDALE -- Fort Lauderdale officials on Friday held a news conference to remind spring break visitors to follow the laws to stay safe during the annual rite of spring.
This year's spring break season begins Friday and extends through April 1, according to police.
Police Maj. Bill Schultz said his officers planned to be out to ensure visitors and residents are complying with local laws, including those involving underage drinking.
"As in all public areas, the laws and ordinances and park rules that we ask you to adhere to are very important in keeping a safe, sound secure and enjoyable environment for everyone," he said.
"We're looking forward to all of our visitors coming and enjoying our beautiful beaches and our magnificent downtown," Fort Lauderdale Fire Department Chief Steve Gollan said. "But we want you to be safe while you're here. The goal is to return you back home the same way you came here."
Police said some of the city's municipal ordinances that are relevant during the spring break season include:
- Possessing/serving/giving an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21. Schultz said uniformed and undercover officers would be on patrol to ensure minors are not buying or drinking alcohol.
- Refusing to leave or returning to an establishment after being warned.
- Possessing or displaying fraudulent identification card.
- Possessing an open container of alcohol within a public place which is not an enclosed structure.
- Causing a public disturbance while intoxicated.
- Engaging in physical fighting or in violent, threatening behavior.
- Public indecency; exposing sexual organs or female's breasts.
Authorities said violation of the laws could result in arrest or citation requiring an appearance before a local judge.
CBS 4's Nicole Lauren spoke with the Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue about that agency's plans.
Officials said they are increasing their staffing to prepare for the crowds expected to arrive, starting Saturday.
Lt. Crystal Haire said Ocean Rescue crews will also have added patrols on personal watercraft's who will be on water patrol from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. as of Saturday.
Hare said training is important when it comes to the large spring break crowds.
"This morning we were doing run swims where we run out somewhere around the buoy (and) run around the tower five or six times," she said. "We also hit that medical training really hard. If you weren't working out in the ocean, you were doing medical training. The majority of our staff are EMTs and/or paramedics."
Haire said officials saw a big surge in crowds since before the COVID pandemic.
