DeSantis Cracks Down on Spring Break Violence

What’s happening: Thousands of party-goers who descend upon Miami each spring will face a different reality this year. After three years of spring break violence, Florida Governor Ron Desantis and Miami officials are getting tough to curb the chaos.

Unruly visitors: As hoards of students descended upon the Sunshine State last year for a break from their studies, Miami Beach faced large-scale violence resulting in two fatal shootings, 105 firearm seizures, and nearly 500 arrests.

New measures: This year, Desantis hopes to prevent chaos among spring breakers by deploying 45 state troopers to Miami Beach to enforce DUI checkpoints, a 6 p.m. beach curfew, and mandatory bag checks.

• Success: Locals are pleased with the state's effort; one Miami Beach restaurant owner thanked the governor for the “best spring break” his business ever experienced.

Why it matters: A cornerstone of Desantis's governance is his “tough on crime” stance which differentiates him from Democrat compatriots in states and cities overrun with violence.

• Sending a message: As Florida braces for an influx of Haitian migrants fleeing brutal gangs, Desantis is sending a message that Florida is a law-and-order state.

Backlash: Civil rights activists argue that the restrictions are a racist overreaction to crowds who are primarily black.

• However: Miami Police Chief Wayne Jones, the city's first black police chief, refuted the allegations, arguing that his officers crack down on “bad behavior — not race or color.”

• And: Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner refuted claims of racism, stating, “I have a moral obligation to keep people safe, and right now it is not safe.”