Police presence helps keep out the 'riffraff' in spring -break besieged New Smyrna Beach

Yahoo

15-03-2025

Spring break was off to a busy yet relatively peaceful start as of Saturday afternoon in New Smyrna Beach, with a stepped-up police presence in the city along hotspots such as Flagler Avenue.
Traffic was heavy, a decent-sized crowd of people walked along the busy street, and sunbathers and beachgoers enjoyed the warm temperatures and clear skies.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officers were plentiful in the area, both on the beach and on the streets. The New Smyrna Beach Police Department had a mobile command center set up in a parking lot at the Flagler Avenue beach ramp.
It wasn't the first time at spring break for Orlando residents Lucas Natali, 15, and Josh Rosenthal, who said he was "about 16." Rosenthal said he approached this year's events more cautiously after getting hit with traffic tickets last year.
"Last year, I got over $700 worth of tickets," he said.
"They're definitely heavy on the rules," Natali said.
The two said they like to visit New Smyrna Beach to meet up with friends and enjoy the surroundings.
"We're here for the whole weekend. We're just here to catch some vibes, catch some waves, get some tanning going," Rosenthal said.
The New Smyrna Beach Police Department had made about 10 arrests and issued about 250 traffic citations over about 2 1/2 days of spring break through Saturday afternoon, according to Capt. Jason Reve.
Reve said the arrests were relatively minor things such as drug possession, but no weapons violations.
"Nothing involving any weapons or, you know, fighting, anything like that ― violence," Reve said.
Last year, authorities arrested a 16-year-old after he pulled a gun out in a crowd of spring breakers on New Smyrna Beach.
The city instituted a special event zone on Thursday in anticipation of "Senior Skip Day." It was only in effect that day, Reve said. Among other things, the law doubled the fine for noncriminal traffic infractions in the event zone.
Anne Hamm, owner of the North Beach Surf Shack food truck, said she welcomes spring breakers who want to respectfully enjoy the city. She also said she welcomed the increased police presence, which seemed to be working.
"I think, you know, the police presence is keeping some of the riffraff, so to speak, from ... showing up here, so I'm all for it," Hamm said.
Reve said the police department has not changed its approach to the event this year compared to last year. The department is getting help from agencies across the county. Dozens of officers are in the Flagler Avenue area at any given time, not including the Volusia Sheriff's Office, he said.
The goal is for people to enjoy themselves safely and respectfully.
"We don't want the loud music and the revving engines and the peeling out of the tiers. Just come obey the laws and have a nice, safe trip and enjoy yourself," Reve said.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Spring break in New Smyrna Beach brings big police presence