Florida city well practiced in handling college students
By Mac Engel Special to the Kansan
There are still some places in Florida happy to see college students visit for Spring Break. Panama City Beach, Fla., officials say vacation visitors there can still have the good times without the worries of violence.
"We are the exception to the rule," said Jimmy Morrison, hotel manager of Holiday Inn in Panama City Beach. "We treat them like young adults, and as long as you respect them, they will respect your property. Daytona never wanted the students, and they wouldn't respect them."
Panama City lives on the Spring-Break dollar and has had less and less destructive action to worry about during the past years when it comes to students, officials say.
This year Student Union Activities is sponsoring a trip to Panama City. Paul Wolters, SUA travel coordinator, said that other than an occasional noise complaint where students have stayed on previous trips, SUA had faced few problems.
"We take staff with us, and if any altercation arises then it will be dealt with by the staff." Wolters said.
Sgt. Mark Smith of the Panama City Beach police said that as the popularity for Panama City had grown, violence and vandalism by spring breakers had not hit the area. Police presence is leading to a safe
"When they get into groups, there is a good chance of someone getting hurt, and it just takes one to ruin it for everybody."
Sgt. Mark Smith Panama City Beach police
community when the travelers arrive in large masses, he said. Smith is preparing for his 14th year of spring breakers.
"The rowdiness has gone down here, and it's from the way we police," Smith said. "We are on foot on the beaches, the strip and the motels.
"We don't see the problems of Daytona, and we have the same amount of kids."
The main concern for the police, Smith
said, is trying to separate large groups of people on the beach at night.
"When they get into groups there is a good chance of someone getting hurt, and it just takes one to ruin it for everybody," Smith said.
In preparation for the increase in activity, everyone takes precautions.
The Holiday Inn hires a full-time activity employee to organize activities for the spring breakers, Morrison said.
Wolters and his staff keep in close contact with the condominium mangers to try and prevent any altercation from occurring. Along with his staff, Wolters makes rounds to make sure that the noise level is kept down and no complaints have been reported from other guests.
The police increase shifts two hours and add an extra unit for the increase in vacationers. Restaurant and bar owners make a point of showing their employees exactly what to do in case a problem arises.
"Our community is based on tourists, and we are well aware of what we have to do," Smith said. "And, after the winters, we look forward to it. We have more to do, and the time goes by a little bit faster."
"We worry about the students but aren't restrictive from them doing what they want." Wolters said.
Problems that spring break communities might face with the college vacationers is
often tied by a common thread: alcohol.
Bernie Martinez, manager of the Club La Vela in Panama City, said that he prepared his staff to handle behavior of patrons who were drunk, but that when drugs dictated someone's actions it was difficult to handle the situation.
"I believe some of the drugs are getting worse. If they become too violent, a bouncer will pin them to the floor and wait until the police come. But that does not happen very often," Martinez said.
On most occasions, if a customer becomes rowdy he or she will be asked to leave and that will be the end of it. If a patron refuses to leave and the will police arrive, the offender faces a night in the local jail.
"They spend six hours in jail," Smith said. "Then they have to come back to face the judge weeks later and that's the biggest problem."
"You pay once for spring break, pay a fine and then have to come back just for court."
Despite the inevitable situations, with the large numbers of students who migrate south for the week, Panama City is optimistic about the upcoming spring break season
"This is my first year as manager, and I worry because I am responsible for a lot of people. And it's important to have a good reputation. I believe it will be a good year," Martinez said.