Daytona Beach Police Department to increase police presence over the holiday weekend.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News 

The Daytona Beach Police Department is anticipating an increase in foot and vehicular traffic throughout the city this Memorial Day weekend due to large crowds attending various events in Daytona Beach. To ensure the safety of locals and visitors to the area, all available Daytona Beach police officers are mandated to work this Memorial Day weekend, according to Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young. 

According to a release, besides the crowds that usually come to the World’s Most Famous Beach on the unofficial start of summer, Daytona Beach will also have the following events this holiday weekend:

• Heroes Honor Festival (concert at Daytona International Speedway)
• High School graduations at the Ocean Center
• Orlando Invades Daytona (not sanctioned by the City of Daytona Beach)
• Daytona Beach Bandshell Summer Concert & Fireworks Series

Daytona Beach Police Department requested mutual aid from area law enforcement agencies for Memorial Day weekend, and multiple agencies have agreed to assist. These officers or deputies from each agency will be working the streets alongside Daytona Beach Police Department’s patrol units.

“We are aware of these events, and preparations have been made on our end to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible,” Young said. “We ask our residents and visitors to be patient as we ensure traffic and pedestrian flow, especially in the core tourist zones.”

The tourist zones in Daytona Beach are along Atlantic Avenue (State Road A1A) between U.S. 92/International Speedway Boulevard (ISB), Seabreeze/Oakridge Boulevards, and International Speedway Boulevard near the Daytona International Speedway.

Parking will be even more limited in some areas due to the crowds and the increased police presence, including the parking lots in or near Breakers Park, the Daytona Beach Pier, and others within the core tourist zones.

The Main Street drawbridge will not be made available to regular vehicle traffic. Usage of the bridge will be for locals who live or work on beachside or anyone going to the Ocean Center for graduation ceremonies. A checkpoint on the western side of the bridge will be set up for officers to check driver’s licenses, graduation tickets, or employee identification badges. 

The Police Department encourages anyone who wants to enter beachside this holiday weekend to use any of the other three bridges at International Speedway Boulevard, Seabreeze/Oakridge Boulevards, and Silver/Orange Avenues.