Miami Beach officials review March Spring Break safety plan with traffic limits, DUI enforcement, and staffing boosts

Miami Beach prepares for March crowds with expanded enforcement and transportation controls

Miami Beach officials are moving forward with a set of public safety and traffic measures for March 2026, when the city expects heightened visitor volumes tied to Spring Break activity and major events. City leaders have designated the entire month of March as a “high-impact period,” triggering enhanced staffing and operational changes across public safety, mobility and code enforcement functions.

A city briefing scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Miami Beach Police Headquarters is set to outline coordinated plans involving city officials, police leadership and partner agencies. Officials have identified the weekends of March 12–15 and March 19–22 as the periods most likely to draw the largest crowds, with additional restrictions expected during those peak dates.

Key measures: license plate readers, DUI enforcement, and Ocean Drive vehicle restrictions

• License plate reader operations are planned on the eastbound lanes of the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways during peak weekends, with lane reductions expected to create delays. A separate license plate reader detail is also scheduled along the 5 Street corridor on March 6–8 during late-night hours.
• DUI enforcement operations are scheduled for March 13–14 and March 20–21.
• During the two peak weekends, Ocean Drive is expected to operate under limited vehicle access, with entry restricted to the northernmost available street and a single exit at 5 Street.

Parking, access controls, and temporary limits on certain rentals

Beginning Thursday, March 5, additional measures are slated to be in effect from Thursday through Sunday each week through March. These include flat-fee parking rates in several parking garages in the Art Deco District, with listed rates ranging from $40 to $100, and local access restrictions on some city streets aimed at reducing congestion and improving mobility for residents and patrons.

For the peak weekends, the city also plans to suspend operations of businesses that rent or lease certain low-speed and motorized vehicles, including golf carts, autocycles, motorized scooters and mopeds, and other small-engine vehicles.

Staffing increases and inspections across public safety agencies

The city’s plan calls for significantly enhanced staffing levels across Miami Beach Police, Fire Rescue, Ocean Rescue, Code Compliance, Park Rangers, Parking and Sanitation services throughout March. Miami Beach Police staffing is expected to be supplemented by state, county and municipal partner agencies. Fire inspectors are expected to conduct nightly weekend inspections focused on occupancy loads and life safety systems at nightlife venues and similar establishments.

Operational details may be adjusted based on real-time conditions during March, city officials said in outlining the framework for the high-impact period.

Extended trolley hours during key March periods

To support mobility during high-demand days, Miami Beach’s free citywide trolley service is scheduled to run on an enhanced timetable during several March windows, including later nightly service and additional vehicles on key routes.