Miami Beach Police to use license plate readers, increase patrols for New Year’s Eve
Those bright lights? They may not be festive flares from the firework shows but the beefed-up police presence in Miami Beach on New Year’s Eve.
Revelers planning on ringing in the New Year on the Beach may notice officers upping security in South Beach and deploying license-plate scanners citywide, the department said on Monday.
Although the department does not release specific staffing figures, visitors will notice enhanced patrols, MBPD said.
The license plate readers enable police to track wanted subjects and stolen vehicles, a spokesman said.
Officers will also close off Ocean Drive in South Beach to vehicle traffic from 5th Street to 14th Street from 7 a.m. on Tuesday until 7 a.m. on Thursday.
The department said officers would be “looking for drivers impaired by not only alcohol but also drugs.”
The free Miami Beach trolley service will run until 2 a.m. on January 1. Visit www.miamibeachtrolley.com for the service map.
Drivers who need to find a place to park can also use the Miami Herald’s guide to parking in South Beach to find the cheapest garage, lot or meter spot near your destination.
This story was originally published December 30, 2019 at 4:26 PM.
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