Students in Florida received a new warning on Wednesday, ahead of what is being called “Senior Skip Day.”
In a post to X, formerly Twitter, the Miami Beach Police Department shared a video warning students against skipping school on Thursday, March 21.
“The department has been made aware of that this Thursday, March 21st, students will be participating, here at South Pointe Park in the beach, reference Senior Skip Day,” an officer with the Miami Beach Police Department said in the video. “We would like to remind students that skipping during school hours is considered truancy.”
The officer in the video goes on to state that students who are found skipping classes on Thursday could be detained and taken back to school, even if their parents allowed them to not attend.
Officials with the Miami Beach Police Department are expected to be patrolling public areas, such as beaches and parks, “and enforcing any city ordinances or state laws,” the officer in the video said. Violations of these ordinances or laws include fighting, smoking tobacco or any other illicit substances, and public drinking of alcohol.
The legal age for smoking in Florida is 21.
“Subjects could be detained or possibly arrested,” the officer says.
GIORGIO VIERA/AFP/Getty Images
The warning issued this week comes shortly after officials across Miami attempted to thwart spring break-goers from traveling to the city, due to concerns about violence.
“Florida may be popular for spring break, but it is inhospitable to criminal activity,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said earlier this month. “Florida does not tolerate lawlessness and chaos. I am directing state law enforcement agencies to provide additional personnel and assets to local entities to ensure that they have the resources they need to keep the peace over spring break.”
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Mark Glass said, “Dozens of FDLE members will be working during the spring break season to support our local agencies. From mobilizing our resources quickly to conducting investigations to providing analytical research, we won’t let Florida fall victim to the chaos that other states have seen.”
According to a press release from DeSantis’s office, 17 different law enforcement agencies across Florida requested 140 state troopers to assist with responding to spring break.
In Miami, officials imposed curfews, additional security checks and the deployment of uniformed police officers in different areas. DUI checkpoints were also set up in the city ahead of spring break.
“We’re shutting the door on spring break once and for all,” Miami Beach City Commissioner Alex Fernandez said earlier this month. “Lawlessness will not be tolerated in Miami Beach.”
Newsweek has reached out to the Miami Beach Police Department via email for further comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.