Florida Spring Break arrests show increase

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 17 (UPI) -- Alcohol-related arrests involving minors during Spring Break in Florida leaped 57 percent this year over 2003, a state report says.

There were 5,220 arrests reported between March 8 and April 11 for underage drinking and alcohol sales to minors, according to the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. Agents also confiscated 1,000 fake IDs.

The division stepped up its efforts this year to crack down on rowdy Spring Break behavior with more than 100 agents monitoring party spots across the state, the Fort Lauderdale Sentinel reported.

Panama City Beach ranked first in the state with 2,928 arrests, followed by Daytona Beach with 1,460, Key West with 344 and Fort Lauderdale with 300.