Turn out the lights; the party’s over. That’s the message to spring breakers who have for decades traditionally descended on Panama City Beach.
Late yesterday, the Panama City Beach Police Chief posted a clear message on social media indicating that the fabled beach town would always welcome tourists, but spring break needs to go elsewhere. The post, addressed to “Spring Breakers and Our Community,” thanked the spring breakers who behaved themselves but belied the community’s frustration with the crime the annual event brings with it.
“If you came with guns, bad intentions, and no respect for this city, we saw you. You thought you could blend in and get away with it. You were wrong. Our officers were ready, and many of you ended up in handcuffs. Panama City Beach can no longer be a Spring Break town. That time is over. Every year we try to manage it, and every year it brings more challenges. I’m not willing to risk the safety of our city to hold onto something that no longer works.” – J.R. Talamantez, PCB Chief of Police
Even the vacationers who were not of the spring break crowd made it clear that Panama City Beach has a serious problem with spring break. As of this writing, there have been nearly 3000 replies to Chief Talamantez’s post, the vast majority of which are supportive of discouraging spring breakers.
During the 2025 spring break season, Panama City Beach (PCB) law enforcement reported a significant increase in arrests and citations compared to the previous year. As of early April 2025, approximately 700 arrests and citations had been made, with many incidents involving underage individuals from Georgia and Alabama. This marks a substantial rise from 2024, when total arrests increased by 23% from the previous year, and juvenile arrests rose by 41%.
In response to the escalating issues, PCB authorities have implemented stricter measures, including beach closures and curfews, to manage the situation. Additionally, the PCB police have implemented “Special Event Zones” targeting problematic areas. Special Event Zones are areas that will see increased patrols, as well as stepped up fines and enforcement tactics, such as impounding vehicles. Authorities, made no secret of their intent, publicizing the zones well before spring break.
Panama City Beach is not the only Florida city wanting to divest itself from the problems that spring break brings. Miami recently began their own campaign to discourage spring breakers coming to their beaches, and it has met with some success.
Building on last year’s Miami Beach break up with Spring Break campaign, the city has launched a new initiative dubbed “Reality Check.” This marketing strategy features a video showcasing young people confronting the city’s new rules, driving home the message that the wild party scene of yesteryear is no longer welcome.
“We are not going to reconcile with Spring Break. We’re done,” Mayor Meiner emphasized, making it abundantly clear that these restrictions are not temporary measures but a long-term shift in the city’s approach to tourism.
Cracking down on spring break will no doubt cost Florida cities millions of dollars in tourism revenue. But with a substantial increase in crime, the question for many cities is whether all of the trouble, increased enforcement costs and quality of life issues are worth it. We’re betting they’ll say “No”.
