03-04-2025
PCBPD announces curfew, new restrictions in Pier Park
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Starting Friday, Pier Park will be adding restrictions in order to increase safety among crowds.
There will be an 8 pm to 5 am curfew for unaccompanied minors. Anyone under 18 must be with an adult to stay on the property past 8 pm.
Pier Park is also prohibiting backpacks, large bags, weapons, and alcohol during the is establishing security check points at all the entrances to check for prohibited items.
These measures will be in place until 5 a.m. April 7th.
The new measure are a direct response to Saturday night's shootings.
'We had a critical incident. Your park, everybody knows that it was a shooting event that discussed and the investigation is still ongoing. Pier Park and us together combined have come up with a what we would see as a potential solution to that that is restricting minors,' PCBPD Chief JR Talamantez said.
Other private entities have also decided to follow similar protocols. Shores at Panama announced they will be prohibiting backpacks, fanny packs, and stereos on the sandy beaches behind shoes and Pineapple Willys.
The city is also taking their own measures to control the crowds for the next few weeks.
Starting April 3 through April 6 , city operated parking lots like this one will be closed.
In addition, they have already implemented 2 special event zones that will run through April 7th.
City officials have decided to extend the special event zones for another two weeks.
The zones allows officers to increase traffic fines, tow vehicles involved in an infraction, and charge unpermitted event organizers the cost for law enforcement to respond.
The zones are east of Richard Jackson Boulevard, and the area surrounding Pier Park.
Talamantez says he's hoping these new restrictions will prevent their biggest challenge, keeping large crowds from forming.
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