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Stricter penalties coming to Volusia County during special events

Daytona Beach, Fla. – Law enforcement in Volusia County is once again gearing up for a possible pop-up, unpermitted event called ‘Truck Meet’ in Daytona Beach.

This time, though, deputies and police have a new state law on their side to help them control the crowds in “special event zones.”

“You’re going to sit behind a keyboard, and you think you’re going to promote an event and promote havoc. We’re coming to get you,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

The “Truck Meet” event that brought chaos to the beachside in years past has been moved to South Florida this year, but police still expect many to show this weekend in Daytona Beach.

“Monitoring social media, we still do see this event being promoted in our area,” said Chief Jakari Young with Daytona Beach Police.

The agencies are bringing in extra resources out of caution.

“We have to staff up. I’ve got officers from other departments all around the county coming in,” said Director Stephan Dembinsky with Daytona Beach Shores Police.

Last year’s “Truck Meet” cost Daytona Beach Police Department more than $178,000 in overtime pay. Law enforcement gave out nearly one thousand citations, arrested dozens, and beaches were torn up.

“There’s trucks that weren’t street legal that were converted to look like tanks. There were swimming pools in the back of trucks. The fights that occurred…” said Chitwood.

The events, which aren’t permitted within the city, also took a toll on residents and other beachgoers.

“Over the last couple of days, we’ve rescued almost 150 people out of the ocean — out of rip currents. So these events draw our resources away from those other things,” said Beach Safety Director Andrew Ethridge.

After last year’s event, law enforcement leaders worked with state representatives to create a law that recently took effect.

Now, a sheriff can enact a special event zone with enhanced penalties for breaking noise ordinances, traffic laws and vehicle specifications. This weekend, it’s all Daytona Beach and Daytona Beach Shores’ beachside.

The sheriff can also go after the promoter for not getting a permit for an event.

“Every single bit of overtime that we (incur), any fire or EMS costs that occur, any sanitation issue that occurs — they will be held civilly liable,” said Chitwood.

The special event zone will be in place this weekend until law enforcement deems the event to have dissipated.

Dallas leaders want tougher penalties for unpermitted events after recent mass shootings

The police chief told council members that the city needs an ordinance to crack down on promoters and property owners who hold large events, like the one on April 2, without getting permits. Right now, the fine is between $500 and $2,000. For many, it’s a small cost of doing business.

DALLAS – After two mass shootings at non-permitted events, the Dallas City Council wants to consider tougher penalties for landowners and promoters who don’t follow the rules.

There have still been no arrests in either mass shooting that left two people dead and dozens injured.

The Dallas Police Department received seven calls for service before the deadly mass shooting at an unpermitted concert in Southern Dallas.

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said why the off-duty officers left the event without telling the supervisors about any issues brewing is still under investigation.

“The issue really comes from us not knowing there was an event on the day of the tragedy,” he said.

The police chief told council members that the city needs an ordinance to crack down on promoters and property owners who hold large events, like the one on April 2, without getting permits.

It was an outdoor concert that became a mass shooting, leaving 16 people injured and one man dead.

Right now, the fine is between $500 and $2,000. For many, it’s a small cost of doing business.

“If I’m getting paid thousands and all I have to do is pay a $2,000 fine, irresponsible landowners will take that bet every day,” Garcia said. “We need to come up with something that has teeth.”

Councilmembers agreed.

“You say teeth. I say fangs. I think it needs to hurt,” said Councilmember Gay Donnell Willis. “I would like to see us look at something stronger and more punitive on use that when it turns out to be an unauthorized concert with death. What about criminal?”

“It’s something we will look into,” said city attorney Chris Caso.

Councilman Tennel Atkins argued if DPD had more neighborhood police officers that they would hear about events like these in advance and put the city in a more proactive position.

“I think we have to build trust,” he said. “When we don’t have NPO officers, they don’t know what is going on. We are short NPO and patrol at South Central.”

South Dallas mass shooting victims were not the intended targets, police say

Police say the victims of a mass shooting at a weekend party in South Dallas were not the intended targets. Ten people were shot. The youngest victim was as young as 15 years old.

Chief Garcia said the city is short 17 neighborhood police officers right now.

“There is not a week that one of my three stars is not asking to fill a position. There is not a part of this police department that does not need more support,” he said. “We would love to do more. We would love to have more NPOs because they do a tremendous job. But we need more officers answering 911 calls. We need officers investigating crimes.”

But it can’t be ignored that even the city’s own off-duty police officers working the event left before the shooting without giving a heads-up to supervisors that trouble may have been brewing.

Dallas leaders working to stop illegal parties in wake of recent mass shootings

Monday, Chief Garcia said the issues surrounding that are still under investigation.

“We are looking at everything that happened that night. From criminal to administrative to see where we could have done better and where we failed,” he said.

Police said the motive in both recent mass shootings is still unknown. The youngest victim was 13 years old. One victim from the shooting last week is still in the hospital.