City of Fort Lauderdale, FL

There will be an increased police presence along the beach and other high-traffic areas throughout the season. You can expect:

• Increased enforcement of the above restrictions
• A beach sweep/cleanup each day at 5:30 p.m. 
• Increased enforcement in entertainment areas from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. each day
• Increased enforcement along the beach from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m.

The City of Fort Lauderdale provides a no-charge service for the majority of the downtown area. The service is provided by Circuit – please download the Ride Circuit App (ridecircuit.com) and the Micro Mover will pick you up at your location and drop you off anywhere in the service area. 

Each day from March 1-31, starting at 5pm, multiple Micro Mover vehicles will be located at the corner of Las Olas Boulevard and A1A to assist with moving visitors out of the area. This free service will drop riders near Las Olas and SE 15th Ave.

If your destination is farther away or you have a larger group, look into the City’s community shuttle service. The service has multiple routes throughout the city with two routes that operate along Las Olas Boulevard and A1A. The service is free and operates on a routine schedule. For more information about the routes and service times, please visit ftlcity.info/shuttle.

The City parking facilities will be open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parking on the barrier island is $4 per hour and can be paid via the Pay-By-Phone mobile app or at the pay station with a credit card (select locations accept cash). To avoid receiving a parking citation, make sure that you pay for the amount of time that you need in advance, don’t park in unauthorized spaces, and follow parking regulations. For additional parking information, please visit ftlcity.info/parking.  

All rideshare drivers are strictly prohibited from stopping along State Road A1A (Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard).

When using rideshare programs, remember always check your ride before getting in.

• Know Where You’re Staying: While you are here, we highly recommend you save the address or specific hotel name where you are staying in your phone or somewhere easily accessible.
• Share My Trip: Once a trip starts, riders can use the Share My Trip feature in the app to share their driver’s name, photo, license plate, and location with a friend or family member so they can follow the trip in real time. They will receive a text or push notification that tracks the trip and the estimated time of arrival.
• Check Your Ride: We remind riders to double-check the important details we provide before starting a trip – car make and model, license plate, driver name, and photo. Riders should always confirm this information before getting into the car. To read more about Check Your Ride steps, visit uber.com/newsroom/check-your-ride/.
• Know the Safety Features of the Apps: Learn more about Uber’s rider safety features in this helpful video: youtube.com/watch?v=d_OE-NGlzhc.

Follow these steps to protect yourself and others from water-related injuries and drowning:

• Wear a life jacket on boats or whenever you participate in water recreation activities.
• Never swim alone in unfamiliar waters. Even if you are a strong swimmer, rip currents or other circumstances beyond your control can occur.
• Do NOT drink alcohol before or during swimming, diving, or boating.
• Alcohol affects balance, coordination, and judgment.
• Alcohol use is involved in 3 out of 4 adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation.
• Do NOT dive in shallow water. Always enter the water using your feet first.
• Look for obstacles (like rocks, fallen trees, or other hidden hazards) in the water that could cause injury.

Before swimming in the ocean, take the following steps:

• Pay attention to colored beach flags posted on the beach, which indicate if it is safe to swim or not. Make sure you understand and heed lifeguard warnings.
• Always swim near a lifeguard tower. If anyone needs medical assistance, approach the nearest tower. Ocean Rescue lifeguards are trained EMT’s.
• Watch for signs of rip currents (water moving quickly away from the shore), which can forcefully pull you away from the shore. If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until free from the rip current, then swim diagonally toward the shore.

While enjoying our beautiful beaches, keep the following in mind:

• Digging holes deeper than 12-inches is prohibited as sand can easily collapse and cause injury.
• A majority of sea turtle nesting takes place between March and October. Nests, if present, are marked by wooden stakes and caution tape. Do not disturb turtle nests.
• Stay hydrated and take breaks from the sun and heat.  If you feel the symptoms of heat illness (including fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, and cramps) immediately visit a lifeguard tower for medical attention.

The City will be strictly enforcing the following during Spring Break. Please ensure compliance to avoid fines or further action:

• No alcohol served after 2 a.m. (unless it is permitted through a Special Entertainment District)
• No alcohol served to minors
• Building capacity limits

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s Bar Watch program is a network of people, including bar staff and police officers, who know how to identify and act upon potentially troublesome situations.

How to reduce your risk of sexual assault (tips from the Nancy J. Cotterman Center):

• Travel in a group. Check-in with each other and leave together. Don’t be isolated.
• Trust your instincts. If a situation feels unsafe or uncomfortable, it probably is. 
• Watch your drink. Never leave it unattended. Don’t accept drinks from strangers.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Know what is going on around you.
• Don’t feel obligated. Don’t do anything you don’t want to or feel uncomfortable about.

The City is taking a proactive approach to ensure a safe, fun Spring season for residents and visitors. We are taking the following actions to ensure minimal disruption to our neighbors:

• Messaging to vacation rental operators to ensure compliance with capacity and noise ordinances.
• Increased police presence along the beach and other high-traffic areas throughout the season.
• Increased parking enforcement
• Increased enforcement and beach sweep/cleanup each day at 5:30 p.m.
• Increased enforcement in entertainment areas 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. each day

• Excessive noise coming from entertainment venues
• Accumulation of trash on private property
• Large gatherings at residential properties

Pickpocketing Safety Tips

We're sharing these tips so you can avoid becoming a victim of pickpockets and thieves.

• KEEP IT CLOSE: Never leave your phone or wallet unattended, including on a bar, on a table, or in a restroom.
• Keep your wallets and phones in a front pants pocket.
• Keep pockets zipped and purses buttoned, and always keep them on your person.
• If you carry a purse, keep the straps short to keep it close to your body.
• When you go out, only take the bare minimum of cash and cards needed.
• Always be cautious and aware of your surroundings.
• Report suspicious activity. See something, say something.