Daytona crackdown after chaos
Daytona Beach imposed a special-event zone and a youth curfew after a chaotic spring-break weekend that saw 133 arrests and violent street altercations caught on camera. Officials moved quickly to curb disorder as the city announced new restrictions and enforcement in the wake of the incidents. (clickorlando.com) (fox35orlando.com)
Mayor Derrick Henry signed an emergency youth-protective ordinance the City Commission approved 7–0 at a March 18 meeting. (newsdaytonabeach.com) The temporary rule bars anyone 17 and younger who is not with an adult from being in the event zone nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. between March 20 and March 26, 2026, with an exception for travel to and from work. (fox35orlando.com) City maps place the zone along A1A from University Boulevard south to Silver Beach Avenue and surrounding streets, and within that footprint noncriminal traffic fines are doubled and deputies may impound vehicles for violations. (clickorlando.com) The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office reported 133 weekend arrests countywide, specifying 84 arrests in Daytona Beach and 49 in New Smyrna Beach tied to unsanctioned “takeover” gatherings. (mynews13.com) Sheriff Mike Chitwood told reporters there were “zero gunshots on the beach” and said deputies ramped up staffing to roughly 50 officers patrolling the sand during the enforcement push. (mynews13.com) Officials said the special-event restrictions began at 12:01 p.m. on March 20 and noted that keeping the measures in place past March 26 would require a special City Commission meeting as patrols by Daytona Beach Police and Volusia deputies continued. (fox35orlando.com)
