As spring break crowds surge in South Florida, partygoers are shifting from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale due to Miami’s stricter policies. Miami’s crackdown on spring break activities has led revelers to seek less restrictive areas, particularly Fort Lauderdale. According to CBS News Miami, the Elbo Room on Fort Lauderdale Beach was bustling, with a noticeable police presence across the area.

Fort Lauderdale Police reported 29 arrests and over 2,600 traffic citations issued by Monday last week. This contrasts with the previous year’s spring break in Miami Beach. Donavelli Bercetti, who has visited both Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale for spring break, observed that the crowds in Miami Beach were smaller this year. Factors such as high parking rates, restricted beach hours, and checkpoints have made Miami Beach less appealing to spring breakers. This shift, referred to as the "break up," appears to be having an effect, with 374 arrests reported, marking a 14% decrease compared to last year, as per the CBS News Miami report.

The migration from Miami Beach also affected other areas. The New York Post reported that Sunny Isles Beach saw a large unauthorized party, which was dispersed by police after fights broke out. One eyewitness mentioned seeing "Huge crowd started pulling on. There was two people fighting actually."

South Florida communities are adjusting to the shift in spring break activity. While Fort Lauderdale has welcomed the crowds, other areas, like Sunny Isles Beach, are trying to manage large gatherings. The New York Post reported that Miami arrests dropped to 352, a 13% decrease compared to the previous year, suggesting that efforts to redirect spring breakers are having mixed results.

Despite the challenges, local businesses in Fort Lauderdale have praised the behavior of the spring breakers. Jolene Parker, a manager at Primanti's Pizza, told CBS News Miami, "The kids have been No trouble," noting their generosity with tips.