DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach police are taking preemptive action amid rumors that a pop-up truck event could lead to after-parties and large crowds on the beachside.
The city has established a special event zone, giving law enforcement additional tools to manage traffic and crowds.
Those measures can include increased traffic fines, vehicle impoundments, and penalties for people organizing or participating in certain unauthorized events.
But some business owners and locals question whether the heightened enforcement could send the wrong message to tourists.
Franco Smith, a Daytona Beach resident, said signs warning visitors about event restrictions could make people question whether the beach is safe.
“Where they see the signs saying there are restrictions on events and they wonder if it’s safe to go to the beach,” Smith said.
Florida created the special event zone law in 2022 following a series of disruptive truck events in Daytona Beach in 2021. The law gives local governments additional enforcement tools when a special event zone is established in advance. Those tools can include enhanced traffic penalties and the ability to impound vehicles under certain circumstances.
In March, the city did not have a special event zone in place, and large crowds gathered on the beachside during spring break, creating traffic and other disruptions.
Tom Caffrey, owner of the World’s Most Famous Brewery, said he believes the additional enforcement planned for the potential event is unnecessary.
“We haven’t had a good truck event in probably four years, five years,” Caffrey said. “So one in Geneva, Florida, that potentially could have their after-party here? I don’t know, it’s a little silly to me.”
Caffrey said he would rather see the city work directly with event promoters to manage crowds and have more control over what happens when large groups come to town.
“Anything that we can get here to be better for the area, I am kinda for,” Caffrey said.
Smith also said Daytona Beach needs more activity, arguing that bringing events to the beachside with appropriate controls could help revitalize the area.
“Daytona has literally gone from a really nice place to go to to something that’s really been neglected for a long time,” Smith said.
The possible pop-up event has not been confirmed, but city and law enforcement officials are preparing in case large crowds arrive on the beachside.
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