What to Know
- A total of 13 people were arrested for battery, trespassing or resisting arrest while another eight were charged with drug offenses.
As the annual event known as the Ultra Music Festival moved to its new location on Virginia Key this year, the event saw a slight increase in the number of people arrested during the three day festival.
The Miami Police Department released their numbers on Monday, showing a total of 35 people had been charged with various crimes during the weekend - with 10 of them being felonies.
A total of 13 people were arrested for battery, trespassing or resisting arrest while another eight were charged with drug offenses.
While it's the first time in six years that the number of arrests has gone up - with 27 arrests during the 2018 event in Downtown Miami - it was equal to the number of arrest during the 2017 event and was still down nearly half from the 67 arrests in 2016.
At the same time, the Coast Guard was cracking down on illegal boating and fishing charters and terminated several joy rides over the weekend around the Festival's area.
On Friday, the Coast Guard ended the party for 12 people on board 55-foot pleasure craft, Sea Raven, after discovering multiple safety violations. Coast Guard officials also forced another half dozen boats to end their trips Saturday and Sunday.
Local
Coast Guard Sector Miami Commander Jason Aleksak says authorities stepped up their presence over the weekend due to the music festival, which can get rowdy.
Fines for illegal boat charters can be hefty, costing tens of thousands of dollars, for various safety violations.
The agency says it will seek out maximum penalties for people who put others at risk through these illegal operations.
