A sheriff in Volusia County, Florida, has recently announced lawsuits against spring break promoters, sparking backlash on social media. While reactions to the announcement vary, some Florida residents are worried that these actions may cause tourists to start avoiding the state.
Reports indicate that Sheriff Mike Chitwood has taken action against the promoters of what he calls “unsatisfactory events.” Earlier this month, the sheriff filed lawsuits against two women accused of promoting a spring break takeover, and the office is seeking over $100,000 in damages from them. A total of seven lawsuits have reportedly been filed.
The argument for stopping these events is that they cause chaos and disrupt local businesses. According to Chitwood, the police department is “setting the tone” with these actions, and the county will not “stand for this.” The sheriff’s office is also working with the state attorney to determine whether criminal charges can be filed against these promoters.
Florida Reacts to Sheriff’s Threats of Lawsuits Against Spring Break Promoters
The sheriff’s announcement did not sit well with some Floridians on social media. One seemingly irritated user claimed, “So many Floridians are declaring war on tourists. I understand they’re disruptive and annoying, but I can assure you, when they disappear, there will be a whole new set of problems to complain about.”
Others agreed that there was no reason for a lawsuit, saying that “This lawsuit will go nowhere. It’s basically a form of intimidation by the sheriff’s department,” and that it will not change how spring breakers behave. Some people even took the time to make fun of the sheriff’s “anti-tourist” stance, saying, “That sheriff doesn’t have a Florida accent. Just another northerner in our beautiful state.”
However, not everyone agreed that Sheriff Chitwood was in the wrong. One Floridian argued that “these are usually not tourists; they are young people in their teens and twenties, often locals from within a few hours’ drive, who come only for the party and are not paying for hotels or restaurant meals. They are looking for ‘no rules’ as they tear up the beach and take over intersections with dangerous burnouts.”
It remains to be seen whether these measures will effectively stop spring breakers from visiting locations such as Volusia County, but the heated debate over whether these are desirable tourists continues to divide Floridians.
