If you're planning to party on Cocoa Beach this Saturday, you may want to rethink that
Cocoa Beach city officials are working to end an unauthorized “Beach Day Party” that could bring as many as 10,000 visitors to the city this weekend.
Word has been spreading on social media about the party scheduled to take place Saturday, but city officials want people to know the event is illegal and they should not attend.
“This is an unpermitted event and is therefore illegal,” the city posted on its Facebook page. “The City Manager has established a Special Events Zone under the Florida Statutes. This zone is from the North entrance of Cocoa Beach to the South entrance of Cocoa Beach. All traffic violations will be strictly enforced, and fines will be doubled.”
The post goes on to say traffic violations can result in towing and impoundment of vehicles, and that there will be strict enforcement of all Florida statues and ordinances.
Why is this “Beach Day Party” on Cocoa Beach considered illegal?
The Cocoa Beach Police chief said his department became aware of this special event, which anticipated bringing as many as 10,000 people to the city. The event was to take place a specific location in Cocoa Beach, but the owner of that business was completely unaware of the event and “strenuously objected to their venue being targeted for an unpermitted event.”
“This event organizer has chosen to subvert the city rules, apparently on purpose and announce a location for the event on property that has not given permission for the event, all the while apparently charging for access to information about the event,” Police Chief Wes Mullins wrote on social media. “It is true that the police department has received intelligence from outside agencies as to bad past behaviors and actions that have occurred congruent with this event put on by this promoter in past years.”
What are the consequences for participating in this specific Cocoa Beach “Beach Day Party” on Saturday?
City Manager Wayne Carragino sent the promoter of the event, Keairra Lashabre Gardner, a certified letter demanding that she “cease and desist from promoting and organizing” the event and announce that it has been canceled.
The letter stated the event being planned is required to have an events permit. If the event is held without the proper permit, any person, corporation or entity who violates the city ordinance may be fined up $500 and/or imprisonment for up to 60 days.
Can you still go to Cocoa Beach this Memorial Day weekend?
Mullins’ post stated the city welcomes all visitors, however, “trying to sneak around currently existing rules and ordinances that are necessary to preserve the public safety in the city is an attack on our system of government itself.”
He pointed out that the majority of special event permit applications get approved, and part of the reason for the application process is to help the city plan for any contingencies.
Extra law enforcement will be in Cocoa Beach this weekend ensuring the safety of the community.
Contact Trending Reporter Michelle Spitzer at mspitzer@floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: "Beach Day Party" planned for Cocoa Beach Saturday is illegal: Police
