‘Canceled’: Police in two SC cities cracking down on spring break parties
A host of party promotions posted to the Myrtle Beach Police Department’s social media pages read “Canceled” in bold red lettering.
As spring breakers flock to Myrtle Beach, local police say they’re prepared to crack down on wild parties using nearly 2,000 cameras across the city. The MBPD intelligence unit found the digital promotions on social media in “ongoing monitoring efforts,” prompting the department’s post.
“What’s different is the level of coordination and intelligence we’re using to stay ahead of these events,” said MBPD spokesperson Randolph Angotti. “We’re not just responding, we’re identifying, monitoring, and intervening early to prevent situations from escalating like we have seen from around the country.”
In Daytona Beach, Florida, a popular spring break destination, officials declared a state of emergency over the weekend in response to several incidents involving spring breakers wreaking havoc on the area.
The move is reportedly in response to thousands of college-aged beachgoers descending on the sandy shores for unauthorized beach “takeover events” organized on social media, according to a FOX 35 story.
Myrtle Beach Police has seen an increase in online promotions for large, unpermitted gatherings, according to Angotti.
It is unclear from the promotions where the parties were set to take place in the city. However, there are several Project X mansion events posted on social media and on Eventbrite for such parties in other states across the country.
North Myrtle Beach recently introduced a new ordinance targeting out-of-control parties in the city at the request of the city police.
Myrtle Beach hasn’t implemented any such legal measures, but MBPD says it hopes to address nuisance events before they occur by increasing police presence in disruption-prone areas and actively monitoring gatherings, including with its multimillion-dollar Real Time Crime Unit.
More than 1,800 cameras across Myrtle Beach allow police to track activity in real time, according to Angotti. “There’s not a lot of places where there aren’t cameras,” Angotti told The Sun News in 2024.
Hosts, organizers and promoters planning parties in Myrtle Beach need to obtain proper permits and keep guests’ behavior in line, as police say they’ll be held responsible.
“This is not a wait-and-see approach,” said Angotti. “Any reckless behavior, unlawful disruptions, or illegal activity will be met with a swift and decisive response. If gatherings become unsafe or violate the law, they will be addressed and dispersed.”