VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has designated a Special Event Zone along several beachside roads in Daytona Beach due to the potential for an unpermitted truck event that could heavily disrupt traffic this weekend, the sheriff’s office said on X.
The main roads, creating a 6.43 mile zone, include:
- North Atlantic Avenue
- Plaza Boulevard
- North Halifax Avenue
- Main Street
- South Peninsula Drive
Deputies have posted signs at the boundaries of the designated zone where the sheriff’s office said “all laws will be strictly enforced, fines for traffic infractions will be doubled, and vehicles in violation will be subject to impoundment.”
According to the sheriff's office, Florida law authorizes the sheriff or chief administrative officer of a county or municipality to designate an area as a special event zone in response to a special event, defined as an unpermitted activity or event organized or promoted via a social media platform which is attended by 50 or more persons and substantially increases or disrupts the normal flow of traffic on a roadway, street, or highway.
The law:
- Doubles the statutory fine for any noncriminal traffic infraction that occurs within a special event zone.
- Allows a law enforcement officer to impound a vehicle for up to 72 hours for any noncriminal traffic infraction or criminal traffic violation that occurs in a special event zone.
- Authorizes a law enforcement officer to enforce occupancy limits in a special event zone.
- Provides for the recovery of costs associated with designating and enforcing a special event zone from the organizer or promoter of the special event.
The zone goes into effect at 6 p.m. on Friday and will remain in place for the duration of the unpermitted pop-up event to maintain public safety, officials said.