Closing bars earlier won’t help Ocean Drive

On Nov. 7, Miami Beach voters will decide whether to require that the hours for the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages in a limited group of Ocean Drive establishments be shortened by three hours. Such sales would end at 2 a.m. instead of the current 5 a.m.

For the past 13 years, we have lived in our condominium at the north end of Ocean Drive. We also spend considerable amount of time on Ocean Drive. We oppose the proposed ordinance. It is too limited to be effective in reducing Ocean Drive’s problems.

First, the 2 a.m. closing zone is limited to only the 10 half-blocks of Ocean Drive between Fifth and 15th streets. The zone ends at the alley immediately behind Ocean Drive. That narrow strip of real estate would continue to be surrounded by a vast number of establishments that close at 5 a.m., including on Collins Avenue.

Second, the proposed ordinance exempts indoor hotel bars. They could continue to serve alcohol until 5 a.m. Even assuming that the current closing time fuels disruptive and criminal conduct, that conduct cannot be reduced by the proposed closing time. Its scope is simply too restricted. It would apply only to a tiny geographical sliver and some, but not all, alcoholic beverage establishments within that sliver.

What Ocean Drive needs is far more basic and boring. Ocean Drive needs code compliance and police to adopt zero-tolerance practices to address consistently the obvious, hit-you-in-the-face, low-hanging fruit, such as excessive noise, dangerous driving, overflowing dumpsters, vacant lots, and repeat violators in all categories. Ocean Drive needs police to stop just driving, bicycling, and walking obvious violations without taking action.

This story was originally published October 21, 2017 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Closing bars earlier won’t help Ocean Drive."