DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is looking at monetarily punishing the promoters of recent unsanctioned spring break events in Daytona Beach, including one this past weekend.
Investigators are looking into events promoted on social media specifically.
“If you promote an unsanctioned event and we incur cost and police, fire, EMS and trash cleanup, you are responsible for the cost of that event,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood at a news conference Tuesday.
Chitwood already sent a cease and desist letter to one promoter on Monday, urging her to stop promoting an “unpermitted, unsanctioned event in Daytona Beach from March 18 to March 23.”
Chitwood says the unsanctioned events increase traffic and jeopardize public health, safety and welfare.
“This is not safe, nor is it fair for you to promote this unpermitted and unsanctioned event which jeopardizes the safety and welfare of the residents and visitors and puts undue strain on law enforcement, medical, firefighting and beach safety resources to monitor and ensure traffic patterns, provide emergency services and enforce the laws while protecting and serving all involved,” Chitwood wrote.
Chitwood told reporters on Tuesday that his agency has not gotten a response to the letter from that promoter.
“What I would like to do with you here is put them on notice to the world that you are being noticed, that if an event pops up here this weekend and we’re going to name some people here, I’m coming after your Tesla first, and then we’re going to have the rest of your money to pay for this thing,” Chitwood said.
The sheriff’s office blames these unsanctioned events for the chaos that occurred on the beach in Daytona over the weekend. Deputies arrested some 133 people on the beach itself, and the unrest that started on the beach spilled over into the city, with 9,000 to 10,000 people involved.
VSO deputies made 133 arrests in Spring Break crowds this weekend: 84 in the Daytona Beach area and 49 in New Smyrna Beach.
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) March 16, 2026
Today @SheriffChitwood briefed the media on concerns about Spring Break crowds.
There were no shootings on the beach this weekend. Widespread videos… pic.twitter.com/VqkCMMioXZ
The sheriff said law enforcement arrested several people carrying guns but that there were no shootings on the sand, despite a viral video of crowds running. He said people started running after people popped water bottles to make a shooting sound.
[WATCH: City’s handling of chaotic Daytona Beach weekend questioned amid pop-up event, shootings]
When crowds moved off the sand, authorities said the situation grew more chaotic. Daytona Beach police are investigating four separate shootings from Saturday night - two were beachside, and two were mainland.
Investigators are still searching for suspects.
A county sheriff can declare a special event zone for unsanctioned events for a city, allowing increased officers, resources, and penalties for lawbreakers.
Sheriff Chitwood said he wanted to put one in place last weekend, knowing the event was likely coming to town, but he said he couldn’t get the City of Daytona Beach to let their officers take part.
“How fair is that going to be if I’m writing $500 tickets and towing and impounding cars and for the same violation, Daytona’s just issuing a ticket and letting them go,” said Chitwood.
The sheriff said the city manager has to allow the police department to take part.
News 6 reached out to the city manager, Deric C. Feacher, who said he will support the police department taking part in the zone this upcoming weekend.
As for why he didn’t give the green light last weekend, News 6 was told: “Rather than continuing the negative narrative on what didn’t happen last weekend, we are focused on cooperation, public safety and what’s best for Daytona Beach moving forward.”
A special event zone is being declared for this coming weekend, from University Boulevard to Silver Beach, from Friday at 11 a.m. going into Sunday. Chitwood said they will decide on Tuesday whether to break the special event zone down.
That means more law enforcement on the roads, traffic fines will be doubled, and towing will be increased as well for minor infractions.
"Everyone we arrest will not be given a ticket. You will physically be removed from the venue and processed at another venue," Chitwood said. “Walking down the beach with an open container, you’re taking a ride, smoking weed on the beach, you’re taking a ride. Fighting on the beach, you’re taking a ride. So that’s what’s going to take effect."