ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Local police departments are gearing up for the long holiday weekend with increased presence and reminders to visitors about parking, fireworks and alcohol restrictions.
All hands will be on deck for Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach Police Departments in anticipation of large crowds for the weekend, especially the Fourth of July parade, sponsored by the Anna Maria Island Privateers, which begins on Friday, July 4 at 10 a.m. at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and ends at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria.
“We’re going to 12-hour shifts, and all days off (for BBPD police officers) have been canceled,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby wrote in a June 26 email to The Sun.
Bradenton Beach commissioners approved a declaration of a local state of emergency on June 5 for July 4-6 in the city.
“We’re trying to be proactive,” Cosby said at the June meeting. “I need to be able to put people on call and pay out some extra overtime and there are some requirements in our emergency ordinance so I would like to activate that.”
The Holmes Beach Police Department will have an increased presence with extra officers working the holiday weekend, according to a June 25 email to The Sun from Police Chief Bill Tokajer.
Fireworks, alcohol prohibited
“It’s important to know that according to the Holmes Beach city ordinance, fireworks are prohibited in the City of Holmes Beach. Fireworks are defined in Florida Statute 791.01 as exploding, launching or projectile fireworks. Illegal fireworks will be seized and a City Ordinance Violation will be issued to anyone who has fireworks in their possession,” Tokajer wrote.
Sky lanterns are also prohibited.
Sparklers, smoke devices, party poppers, snappers and snakes are allowed. Children should be supervised at all times.
Consumption of alcohol, possession of alcohol and fires are prohibited on all beaches.
“Fireworks, if it flies or goes boom, it’s illegal,” Cosby wrote.
“Remember, it is turtle and bird nesting season on the beach so please do not disturb the turtles or the nesting birds,” Tokajer stated in his email.
Parking
“People need to be patient,” Cosby said. “There is no saving parking spaces. Those are first come, first serve.”
Tokajer provided a list of possible parking violations in Holmes Beach that visitors need to be aware of. Some of the prohibited parking spots include: On a sidewalk or within 20 feet of a crosswalk, within 30 feet of a stop sign, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, blocking driveways, improperly parked in a disabled spot, parked facing in the wrong direction, and between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. at the public beach.
For any vehicle parked in a right-of-way, all tires are required to be located fully within the right-of-way and no tire or part of a vehicle may be located in the roadway, except for on Key Royale Drive between Crestwood Road and North Point Drive.
