With spring break’s arrival, the beach beckons and bewares get shared.
Beachgoers are bound for time in the sun and thus, first responders are due for one of the busiest periods on Anna Maria Island.
“We know there’s going to be a lot more people on the island and that potentially can cause serious issues,” Randy Warren, public information officer for Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, said March 2.
Warren said MCSO deputies, who patrol Anna Maria under a contract with the city, will be joined by the county’s special response team and mounted patrol units in policing the beaches some weekends this spring. The MCSO also will deploy marine patrols in greater numbers.
The break season will last into late April but Manatee County School District students, as well as some other Florida school families, will be on vacation March 10-19.
Warren said mounted patrol units will be at Bradenton Beach’s Coquina Beach noon-6 p.m. April 8-9, which is Easter weekend.
“We want everyone to understand the rules that are in place,” he said. “Pay attention to the posted warnings and city ordinances that exist. Our deputies will be enforcing the ordinances, the laws that exist on the island, with zero tolerance.”
Warren issued a specific warning to young people: “We know that we get a lot of people from out of town. We have seen an increase in juveniles that are coming from other counties that will go to places like Anna Maria and Holmes Beach. We want them to know they can’t come down here and act the fool and expect that there aren’t going to be consequences.”
MCSO will be coordinating law enforcement efforts with Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach police departments.
Lt. Lenard Diaz of the Bradenton Beach Police Department said March 1 that the BBPD would put extra officers in place this month.
Diaz said he hopes visitors will follow the rules and be safe: “Just come out and have a good time. There is no alcohol on the beach. Enjoy our city and go home safely.”
Holmes Beach also will add patrols — day and night — to address an increase in visitors and vacationers on AMI.
Police Chief Bill Tokajer said March 1 that the visitor counts already were on the rise.
“In the last seven days, we’ve had an average of 31,099 cars per day coming through the city. Last year at this time we were at 26,000,” Tokajer said.
“Our intention is to keep Holmes Beach a family-friendly beach atmosphere,” Tokajer continued. “We will have a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol on the beach and underage drinking.”
Traffic to, from and on AMI
Warren said parking and traffic also will be concerns during break.
“We need people to be patient,” he said. “There are going to be backups along the road at times, as people are getting on and off the island. People need to be very patient when it comes to parking. Understand with the limited parking situation there are again … well-posted signs and if you follow that, you don’t have to worry about getting a citation.”
Infrastructure work in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach already is impeding traffic and work at the public beaches in Bradenton Beach also is taking away some parking.
“It’s probably not going to be easier this year with all the construction going on down there by Cortez Beach,” Diaz said. “I’m hoping that everyone comes down here and understands that there’s construction going on anywhere, in any state, right now and just to be patient.”
Tokajer, in a separate interview, added, “We would like everyone to be mindful of our parking laws. You must park with all four tires off the road and always parallel park unless it’s a designated parking lot.”
“We still have construction, so people need to be patient.”
The officials encouraged daytrippers to the island to carpool and use public transit — Manatee County Area Transit operates fare-free bus services, including on Manatee Avenue to Manatee Public Beach and on Cortez Road to Coquina Beach, as well as the island trolley between Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach.
To those who drive and park at the beach, officials reminded beachgoers to remove any valuables and lock their vehicles.
The Islander reached out to Manatee County Beach Patrol Chief Joe Westerman by phone March 1 but there was no response as of March 6.