Taking a break
Hot spots plan for student arrival
by Kathy Walsh Kansan staff writer
A lot of planning is required of Spring breakers before they embark on their one week of sheer madness. But something they might not need to do on the outside, at their destinations.
Breeze Carlie, executive director of the South Padre Island Visitors and Convention Bureau, said that every year the Island looked its best before the Spring Break
The town conducts a series of meetings with city officials to prepare for the overwhelming influx of people to the island, Carlie said.
"The whole island seems to get ready," she said. "There's lots of painting and sprucing up of the island. It looks its best before the spring breakers. After a couple of Spring Breakers."
Ordinances are strictly enforced, and permits must be obtained if someone wants to do something on public property, she said. Vending is not allowed on the beaches, nor is the distribution of flyers. All beaches are public in South Padre.
Carlie said that this year games and contests would be policed.
"Fun is fun, but some of the nudity that has occurred in the past is against the law. The fine will be on the promoter of the event that allows it to take place," she said.
The police department also has to get ready for the extra people. South Padre has a population of 1,000, Carlie said, but during Spring Break people on the island. 32,000 people on the island.
to 65,000. Capt. Tommy Atkinson, of the South Padre Police Department, said the only change in the department was the schedule.
"We shift the schedule around and change
the number of hours they work and when
they finish."
Although the police department does not hire any additional people, Atkinson said reserves were brought in as well as the Department and the Highway Patrol.
The biggest problems with Spring Breakers are alcohol related, he said, such as public intoxication, disorderly conduct and noise.
Hotels and motels prepare for the Spring Breakers as well. The Radisson Hotel on South Padre Island establishes rules for the five-week Spring break season.
Mike England, front office manager, said that these rules are for verification, not to prevent damage deposits.
"We also control the access to the two tower buildings," he said. "At registration we issue wristbands to the registered guests."
England said the Spring Breakers didn't understand why the hotel did this.
"Before we did this, a lot of rooms got broken into," he said.
brown hair on brown head
"Only registered guests are allowed up after 9:00 p.m., but one guest per registered guest is allowed until midnight."
The Radisson Resort will increase its 24-hour security from one or two people each day. The Royal Suite in England seats 160.
For Spring Breakers who want to charge things to their room, England said they would have to leave a major credit card at the front desk upon check-in.
"I don't recommend charging things to a room because it can get out of control," he said.
Officials in Daytona Beach. Fla., begin planning for Spring Break in September, said Janet Ford, secretary for the Spring Break committee.
The committee only handles functions on city property, she said. If an event is too large for the Spring Break Committee to handle, it goes back go through the city commission, she said.
"The process of getting something approved takes at least two weeks," she said. "There is definitely the need to plan in advance."
advance.
Sgt. Philip Kincaide, of the Daytona Police Department, said that the increase in traffic was a big factor.
"We don't anticipate problems, but solutions," he said. "There will be 400,000 to
500,000 Spring Breakers. Put that number of people in a small area and it will cause traffic problems."
In preparation for the Spring Breakers, the police department has set up what it calls the Hollywood Street Sub Station. Kinaide said that people arrested for a misdemeanor were taken there to be photographed and finger printed.
"The judge has set a $40 fine for most nidemenearrals," he said.
The Daytona Police Department does not hire extra officers but is assisted by the special troops that come in, such as the Highway Patrol and the Highway Patrol, he said.
Howard Reines, director of operations for the Holiday Inn Surfside Hotel, said that his hotel tried to treat the Spring Breakers like regular guests.
The Holiday Inn Surfside doubles its security staff and locks all balcony doors to prevent accidents.
"We hire regular Daytona Beach police to watch the property," he said. "Spring Breakers won't go 10 minutes without seeing a security guard."
Reines said that the only policy change they had besides locking balcony doors was charging a $2-per-person damage deposit.
The common message from all officials to all Spring Breakers was to have fun.
In spring breaker was to have him.
"I'm not looking for trouble." Reines said.
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20 KANSAN Taking a break/March 1, 1989