Some commission members questioned whether the ordinance addressed the actual root problem. Florida law enforcement officials say they arrested 78 people from Alabama in Panama City Beach, Fla., over the weekend and confiscated 75 guns as spring break revelry devolved into chaos. March 28, 2022 / 7:22 PM / CBS/AP Rowdy spring break crowds from Miami Beach to Florida's Panhandle have forced curfews and led some establishments to close their doors altogether. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. ( WMBB) - Most locals know about the Spring Break laws, but the "no alcohol on the beach" rule comes as a shock to some visitors. Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant basketball players in NBA history and is now also a larger-than-life entertainer! Its a lot of government overreach to me, said commission member Jenny Flint Aligas. Spring break in Florida: . Are you ready to party? Panama City and Panama City Beach are separate municipalities. We just want to make sure nobody gets hurt from some buffoons that come from out of town that dont even know how to hold a gun, Brudnicki said. SPRING BREAK VLOG | 2022 | Panama City Beach!!! Brand new to the Panama City Beach landscape is Runaway Island. Yes, yes, and yes! Panama City Beach Police cracking down on alcohol on the beach - WJHG A Panama City Beach spring break means a surplus of seafood, saltwater, and NSFW fun. While half of those arrested during spring break 2022 were Alabama residents, Panama City Beach Mayor Mark Sheldon suggested much of the lawbreaking came from people other than visiting college students. The burdens imposed by the ordinance clearly shows an intent to get rid of 4 a.m. bars altogether, year-round, he said. According to the city, these rules have been in place since 2016 in hopes to decrease criminal activity in the area. VIP cards** are your entry point into a world of first-class worthy services and perks. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. I dont want my citizens being hurt. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Spring break is just around the corner, and that means so are the spring break laws. Several residents appeared at a special meeting of Panama Citys city commission to say they thought it was overly broad, would hurt local businesses or was otherwise misguided. All rights reserved (About Us). No booze on the beach for the month of March in PCB - WJHG Students arrested for violating any of the above spring break laws will serve a minimum of one night in jail. So Im kind of okay with it, Hickey said. Panama City Beach passes beach, alcohol curfews for spring break 2023 Published: Feb. 9, 2022 at 4:51 PM PST PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Spring break is fast approaching and that means so are the spring break ordinances. Grab that sunblock and settle in on their open-air patio for a Pineapple Willy, featuring Myers Platinum Rum, gold rum, Hawaiian pineapple juice, and cream of coconut before diving into their tantalizing eats. Spring for sky-high condo living when you choose to relax in the heart of Panama City Beach at, Are you ready to party? One of the biggest. Show off your dance moves as you groove to the local performers, or check their special events schedule, and stop by for a shrimp or Low Country Boil. Shipwreck Island Waterpark, Pier Park, Panama City Beach, and Shell Island, just to name a few. Tell us, have you ever had spring break at Panama City Beach? This modern resort property is brimming with ingenious amenities and perks, including a real pirate ship, multiple cascading pool waterfalls, and direct beach access. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of Tripster's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - No alcohol on the sandy beaches during the month of March. Mardi Gras in New Orleans: Everything You Need to Plan the Perfect Trip in 2022, No cover charges at the most popular Spring Break beach clubs, Complimentary beverages during select times, Savings at the area's best restaurants and retail, No cover charge at Harpoon Harrys, Longboards & Hammerhead Freds (a $300 value), Free day club access and drinks at Harpoon Harrys, Discounted or complimentary tickets to both Foam and Glow parties. I always prided myself in never closing early, even if it wasn't busy. Nothing is more sacred to a college coed than spring break. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Thats more of a hurricane situation, he said. While this spring break rule is common knowledge for those who have been here these last few years, many of those who havent said they had no idea the law existed. One of the clubs in particular can hold 296 patrons, Smith said. Their curvaceous and spacious pool is the perfect place to cool off midday, and busy spring breakers will appreciate their fitness gym and mini market, which are open 24/7. Harpoon Harry's is a Panama City Beach mainstay, and we can see why. Florida spring break 2022: Beach webcams show waves, crowds amid COVID pandemic. While the spring break exodus will vary slightly from campus to campus, generally you can expect the rowdy revelers to kick off their PCB festivities around the third week of February. Come March 1st, a list of ordinances goes into effect. Conveniently located just 14 miles from the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, PCB is just a short flight from most major U.S. cities. I don't want my officers to have to run toward gunfire, running toward gunfire like they're in a war.. Party like an apex predator at Hammerhead Freds. Spring Break 2023 in Panama City Beach The new rules and enforcement are an attempt to crack down on what officials called a 'lawless' spring break in 2022, where some 160 people were arrested, including nearly 80 from Alabama.. Youre inviting that problem here, and it came, and thank God nobody got killed.. You can have fun here without being involved in illegal activities. Spring break in Panama City Beach: What we know about the more than 160 Anyone caught with alcohol on the beach during March could face hefty fines, or even jail time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create an account to get access to exclusive pricing and rewards. So cozy up in your classically decorated room, or wake up with the sun and enjoy your complimentary continental breakfast. Panama City being a popular spot for spring breakers, officials are prepared for the crowd of students coming to the beaches with new ordinances designed to keep the peace. Smith also said a gas station next to the club was overrun by roughly 100 people who couldnt get into the club. Resident Tho Bishop said while he thanked law enforcement for their work,local government needs to be held more accountable for itsfailure to provide safety for residents and visitors. Looking to commemorate your PCB escape with a bang? Every March thousands upon thousands of college students flock to the Gulf Coast to participate in the age-old ritual known as the spring break party.. Now since we have that law in place, you know its cut down quite a bit, Brown said. Music heard more than 25 feet away is illegal. City officials proposed a change to Ordinance 3059, which would annually prohibit the sale of alcohol within city limits between 2 and 7 a.m. from March 1 to April 30. Spring break rules begin March 1st in Panama City Beach - WSFA Specializing in 12 hour cooked meats, fresh homemade sides, and sauces, this casual beach haunt is the perfect place to refuel before a night of serious imbibing. All Rights Reserved. 8.1K views, 65 likes, 9 loves, 28 comments, 98 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Last Minute PCB: What REALLY happened in Panama City Beach over Spring. 'What justice looks like in Bay County': 160 arrests, 75 guns - MSN The Mayor of Panama City says last year they were seeing an influx of visitors in late-night businesses who were not prepared for large crowds when things got out of hand. Whether you choose to get down and dirty in a foam pit, stuff yourself silly with seafood at Schooners. If youre ready to celebrate your Spring Break this March, book your travel to Panama City Beach and join us for the biggest student event of the year! Panama City Beach, Florida is considered the Spring Break Capital Of The World as it is the number one choice for students wanting the ultimate Spring Break experience. Looking to level up your spring break lodgings? **Must be 18 or older to purchase a VIP card, 21 and older to drink. He said he understands why Panama City Beach officials set these rules for the time. You may use these HTML tags and attributes: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Below is a link to City ordinances considered by the Panama City Beach City Council. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Spring break is fast approaching and that means so are the spring break ordinances. Panamania in Panama City Beach Florida. What REALLY happened! Panama City Beach, Florida, has long been deemed a mecca for spring breakers due to its dazzling 27 miles of soft, sugar-sand beaches, bountiful waterfront bars, and premier theme parties. At a press conference on Monday, law. for 20 years. #panamacity, Peak week #springbreak2023 and were still going. It was nuts!. It allows guests easy access to the area's famous beaches and popular attractions. Panama City spring break chaos: Businesses worry tourism will drop Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Panama City leaders would be looking at their neighbors proposed rule, he said. Spring break rules begin March 1st in Panama City Beach, No possession or consumption of alcohol on the sandy beaches, No possession or consumption of alcohol in commercial parking lots, No parking in closed business parking lots, unless the parking lot is actively being managed, Overnight scooter rental is not permitted, It is illegal to climb, jump from or throw things from balconies, No metal shovels are allowed on the beach, and no holes may be dug deeper than two feet, Three injured, one dead in Franklin County boating accident, Police: Man shipped $3 million worth of fentanyl to restaurant, Troopers make interesting find while cleaning highway. If you come here with the intent to cause harm to anyone in this community, you will leave with an arrest on your record, Mayor Sheldon said. Florida police cracking down on spring break, announcing curfew Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. You know how many of em we picked up? PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) Most locals know about the Spring Break laws, but the no alcohol on the beach rule comes as a shock to some visitors. You may recall last year 161 people were arrested in one weekend at Panama City Beach, and 11 of those arrested were from the WTVM Viewing Area. Your email address will not be published. Feast on sticky sweet Caribbean wings and fried pickles, or make a date with your boo to sample their dinner menu. But how to decide when to descend on one of the best party spots in Florida? Metal shovels are not permitted . The crowd was disruptive, unruly, uncooperative. Spring Break in Panama City Beach done right at Hammerhead Fred's So take a break from the crustaceans and fill up on slow, smoked goodness when you stop by, Sand in your toes, some delicious rum drinks, and N'awlins style Po'boys make, Lap up every second of Florida sunshine when you choose to eat, drink, and be merry at, Welcome to the biggest party of your spring break career, aka, Surf that party wave when you get down and dirty with all the discounts offered on the, Incredible discounts on concerts and special live events including the Neon Glow Party. Ring in your Spring Break with exceptional flair and finesse when you purchase Panama City Beach's most talked-about VIP Card. Of course, Harry's is also the annual blowout Beach Bash Music Fest site. "If you do something illegal here, you're going to be held accountable," Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R.. Panama City Beach is a popular destination for students to travel for their Spring Break, but according to police chief J.R Talamantez the behavior of spring breakers has changed over the years and that will not be tolerated. Spring Break Rules 2022 Panama City Beach Spring Break All rights reserved. Panama City Beach Police dont mess around when it comes to rule-breakers. Small signs are posted up near beach entrances. Let your toes touch the golden Gulf coast sand as you debate what to dig into next. We went from fist fights to shootings and its unacceptable, said Police Chief J.R Talamantez. All of the collegiate vibes, party spirit, and down-home fun of your favorite campus bar back home, but on the beach! $150, $200, $1,000 for a ticket? Panama City Beach Florida Spring Break 2021: Here are the rules Its something you probably wouldve wanted to know beforehand because you are probably going to be drinking on the beach if you are on vacation.. For a list of Spring Break ordinances, click here. A third section of the ordinance would prohibit consumption of alcohol in parking lots. What we know about the weekend: Spring break in Panama City Beach: What we know about the more than 160 arrests over the weekend, Sunday's press conference: Law enforcement responds to latest spring break violence in PCB. This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. No booze, no worries: For sixth year, Spring Break to be booze - al you know the spring breakers come down here, they can get out of hand, Brown said. Zimmerman said the police chief currently has the power to declare a citywide state of emergency, which could include elements such as a curfew or a shutdown of alcohol sales. 78 from Alabama arrested as Panama City Beach grapples with disorder 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Spring Break 2022: Panama City Beach expects heavy turnout He also said officers found "several" people with guns at the scene of the shooting. Denim cut-offs, six packs of Coors Light, and foam parties oh my! Copyright 2023 WTVM. No metal shovels are allowed on the sandy beach, and digging holes deeper than two feet is prohibited. #springbreak2023 1:33. It can, Panama City Beach Resident Olivia Brown said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Looking for something special to get your mom for Mothers Day? Spring Break 2022: Panama City, PCB, county align for emergencies From dance clubs in Panama City Beach to thumping EDM sets at Beach Bash, follow along as we lay out all the Panama City Beach nightlife offerings. Yearning for those perfect spring break lodgings? At Wednesdays meeting, Panama City Police Chief Mark Smith showed fliers for a couple of such events, one a spring break takeover at a Panama City Club called Vibez on March 26, the other an Alabama Invasion at an unspecified location on March 12. All of the collegiate vibes, party spirit, and down-home fun of your favorite campus bar back home, but on the beach! I dont want that anymore, Brudnicki said. Looking for something special to get your mom for Mothers Day? "What . Located between a shimmering private lake and the Gulf of Mexico, Laketown Wharf is the largest single-building condominium vacation resort in the Panama City area. No containers, Visitor Karen Hickey said. Others said they found out while checking into their hotel. In the wake of what officials termed a "lawless" spring break in 2022, Panama City Beach adopted a series of so-called "spring break laws." Now they'll get to see if they work. You may recall. News 13 this Morning: Spring Break laws go into effect March 1. Depending on your budget and the size of your spring break crew, choose to stay anywhere from a 1 to 3 bedroom bunk room. For seven weeks a year Panama City Beach turns into the worlds largest strip with it's own free shuttle service from beachside hotels to all of the major bars and nightclubs like Club La Vela, Hammerhead Fred's, Sharkys, Calypsos Caribbean Bar & Grill and Hooters.