Miami Beach Announces Traffic Loops, Barricades, and Checkpoints for Memorial Day

Despite continually dropping number of arrests during the weekend, despite having a new police chief and despite a recent racism scandal in the department, Miami Beach is once again turning itself into a mini-police state during Memorial Day Weekend this year. The traffic loops, barricades and checkpoints are all coming...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

May 19, 2015

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Despite decreased arrests yearly over the holiday weekend, despite a new police chief, and despite a recent racism scandal in the department, Miami Beach will once again turn itself into a mini police state during Memorial Day weekend. The traffic loops, barricades, and checkpoints will all return this year.

Here's the rundown on the city's plans:

Ocean Drive will be closed to cars from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Collins and Washington avenues will function as a traffic loop from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Friday through Monday, with Collins handling northbound traffic and Washington serving southbound traffic. No street parking will be available from Fifth Street to Lincoln Road.
Many areas will be closed except to residents, and they may be asked to show ID proving their Miami Beach residence; those areas include residential neighborhoods and parts of Alton Road.
Barricades will be set up to keep visitors out of residential areas.
The Venetian Causeway will be open only to residents.
License plate scanners will be set up on the off-ramps of the Julia Tuttle and MacArthur causeways.
DUI checkpoints will be set up on the causeways from 7 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Saturday. DUI saturation patrols will also be in full effect throughout the weekend.

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