As spring break 2023 begins to peak, authorities in the Panama City Beach area are capitalizing on a new state law that allows them to double fines and impound vehicles for minor traffic offences.

According to an administrative order issued Monday by Panama City Beach’s city manager, Drew Whitman, Special Event Zone designations for two areas in that city will go into effect at 8 a.m. Friday, March 24, and remain in effect until 4 a.m. Monday, March 27.

One of these areas includes the stretch of Front Beach Road between West Pier Park Drive and Hills Road, extending all the way inland to include Pier Park North. The other area, farther to the east, includes the area where Front Beach Road bends away from the beach. Its borders include portions of Richard Jackson Boulevard, U.S. 98 and Moylan Road.

A Panama City Beach spokeswoman said Bay County, Panama City and Panama City Beach were working together. Panama City is to the east of Panama City Beach, with a stretch of unincorporated county territory in between. Zones will be set up in each city and in the area between them.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office said via social media that Sheriff Tommy Ford had “announced his intention to establish a Special Event Zone pursuant to Florida State Statute 316.1891 to begin this Friday, March 24, at 8 am until 4:00 am Monday, March 27. The Zone will include the four-lane of Front Beach Road west to the Panama City Beach city limits, all of Laurie Avenue, the west end of North Lagoon, and the west end of Thomas Drive from Utes Street to the Panama City Beach city limits. Warning signs will be posted Thursday, March 23 along each point of entry and exit of the Special Event Zone.”

The sheriff’s office said that in addition to allowing for doubled fines and towing, there are other potential penalties in the new law. If law enforcement and other first responders have to manage unpermitted special events, the promoters of the events can be billed for “any reasonable costs.”

On the weekend of March 25-27, 2022, Panama City Beach and Panama City were hit by a wave of disorderly gatherings that officials said were often on the brink of violence. Roads and businesses had to be closed, one person was shot and more than 70 firearms were confiscated. More than 160 people were arrested, nearly 80 of them from Alabama. Local officials attributed the mayhem to social media influencers who’d promoted chaotic, unsanctioned flash mob events called “Panamaniac” or “PCB Takeover.”

The new Special Event Zone includes a stretch of beachfront hotels as well as at least one site that figured prominently in the 2022 disruptions: A Walmart supercenter that temporarily shut down after being overrun by people who ran through the aisles, pulling down and throwing merchandise.

In the aftermath, communities passed a variety of measures intended to help prevent or combat out-of-control gatherings. Going into the 2023 season, Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez told AL.com that a new state law allowing cities to set special event zones would be a helpful tool.

“You commit an offence, a traffic infraction in this specific zone, that seat belt ticket that’s typically a hundred and thirty bucks, well now it’s $260,” he said. “All right. Historically we don’t tow people’s vehicles for traffic infractions. This specific law, now allows us, if you are driving down the roadway and you’ve got one of your idiot friends hanging out the window trying to yell at girls, or if you’re impeding the flow of traffic, well, you’re going to get pulled over, you’re going to be cited, double fine, and we’re going to tow your car, and it will be held for a couple of days.

“It helps us increase enforcement,” Talamantez said. “It comes with a set of regulations, rules that we have to follow in regard to the advertisement of the special event zone and the signs we’ve got to post. But all of that has been taken into consideration.”