City of Miami Beach Extends State of Emergency Relating to the High Impact Period

(Miami Beach, FL) Mar 23, 2021 -

Today, the Miami Beach Interim City Manager has extended the City’s State of Emergency relating to the High Impact Period. The following emergency measures will be in effect on the evening of Thursday, March 25 through Monday, March 29, 2021 at 6 a.m.:

  • On the MacArthur Causeway, eastbound lanes will be closed to traffic from 10 p.m. each evening through 6 a.m. the following day, except in the case of City residents, guests of City hotels and vacation rental properties, and employees of City businesses. Motorists will see a single checkpoint at the west end of the causeway. Visitor traffic will directed to the left, where it will be turned around just past the tunnel. Residents, public transportation, deliveries and employees of Miami Beach businesses will be directed toward the right to enter the City.
  • On the Venetian Causeway, eastbound lanes on the Venetian Causeway will be closed to traffic from 10 p.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Monday, except in the case of City residents, deliveries and employees of City businesses.

    Miami Beach residents must show a valid Florida identification card, driver’s license or utility bill indicating a Miami Beach address. Hotel and vacation rental guests must show their lodging confirmation or hotel key card that indicates where they are staying. Employees of Miami Beach businesses can show their employee identification cards. Visitors with restaurant reservations booked after 10 p.m., should show a confirmation of the reservation.

  • On the Julia Tuttle Causeway, the Miami Beach Police Department will deploy license plate readers (LPRs) in lieu of a checkpoint starting at 10 p.m. each evening through 6 a.m. the following day. The LPR will be positioned at the “Welcome to Miami Beach” sign. Traffic will be directed into the left lane (to 41 Street) and right lane (to Alton Road) with the center lane closed to all traffic. This should be faster than residency checks. Motorists will not have to come to a complete stop. There won’t typically be any interaction with officers except in the case of vehicles that are the subject of an LPR alert.
  • Effective from 8 p.m. through 6 a.m. a curfew will be imposed ONLY in the area bounded by 5 Street on the south, 16 Street on the north, Pennsylvania Avenue on the west, and Ocean Drive on the east (the “High Impact Zone”). Restaurants within the High Impact Zone shall be permitted to continue to operate for delivery services only.  Pursuant to Section 26-33(a)(1) of the City Code, the curfew shall not apply to the provision of designated essential services, such as fire, police and hospital services, including the transportation of patients thereto, utility emergency repairs, emergency calls by physicians, and individuals making deliveries from restaurants.
  • From 8 p.m. through 6 a.m., Ocean Drive will be CLOSED to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, except to City residents requiring access to or from their homes, guests of hotels and vacation rental properties, requiring access to or from their hotels/vacation rentals, and employees of business establishments. Other public roads within the High Impact Zone may be closed as deemed necessary by the Interim City Manager or Chief of Police.
  • From 7 p.m. through 6 a.m., all sidewalk café operations, including expanded outdoor restaurant seating, will be SUSPENDED in the High Impact Zone, pursuant to the City’s High Impact Ordinance and City Commission Resolution No. 2021-31599. All sidewalk café operators are directed to stack or remove tables and chairs no later than 8 p.m. each night.

Any violation of these emergency measures shall subject the individual, operator, business entity, or organization to arrest and criminal prosecution pursuant to Section 26-36 and Section 1-14 of the City Code.

The City strongly urges all businesses in the High Impact Zone to close voluntarily during the State of Emergency. This Declaration of a State of Emergency and the measures set forth are separate from and in addition to the emergency measures currently in effect related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All other areas in Miami Beach are open for residents and visitors to patronize after the 8 p.m. curfew in the High Impact Zone, such as Lincoln Road, South of Fifth, Sunset Harbour, Collins Park, 41 Street, North Beach and more.