
Twerking in full view of parents with young children, smoking joints and passing out drunk on the sand: Spring Break students caused chaos in Miami over the weekend and on Monday.

More than 5,000 college kids descended on the white sand of Miami Beach, Florida – causing a headache for cops charged with keeping the peace.

Many were smoking marijuana – a misdemeanor punishable with a year in jail and a $1,000 fine in Florida – and drug dealers were spotted openly plying their trade on the beach.

The penalty for drug dealing is jail time of five years for those with more than 20g of the substance on their person and a $5,000 fine, although that increases to 15 years and $25,000 for those with more than 2kg.

And despite alcohol being banned on the beach, many students were spotted swigging from bottles of tequila and brandy, as well as beer bought from stores on nearby Ocean Drive.

Despite the stiff penalties linked to smoking drugs, students spoken to by DailyMail.com appeared unconcerned.

Jessica, Susan, Margie and Felicia, all 21, who said they were University of Iowa students, were seen casually smoking weed on the beach with their friends.

Jessica said: 'We've been drinking vodka and smoking joints. All the other Spring Breakers come here to the beach too so it's really cool.'

She added: 'We're here until Friday. We're planning to go to the beach every day and party every night. Don't make us look too bad by the way - we do want to get jobs one day.'

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University of Iowa students (from left) Sudan, Margie and Jessica, all 21, and who said they were University of Iowa students, were seen casually smoking weed on the beach with their friends. One girl in the background looks on with a facial expression of half horror and half confusion

A boy in the group mugs for the camera with the joint to his lips, as his friends pose behind him

Expectation vs reality: But the act of smoking was more difficult for some than others. Jessica, a girl in the group (not pictured), said: 'We're here until Friday. We're planning to go to the beach every day and party every night. Don't make us look too bad by the way - we do want to get jobs one day'

Three women in skimpy bikinis make their way down the beach in Miami, Florida. More than 5,000 college kids descended on the area – causing a headache for cops charged with keeping the peace

Despite alcohol being banned on the beach, huge crowds of Spring Breakers formed - some raising fraternity flags - to party on the sand

A group of friends seemed to be loving their trip as they hugged each other and posed for a photo

Springbreakers also brought the party to the ocean, where they took turns drinking from a bag of wine - despite a ban on drinking on the beach

Perhaps in an attempt to get that perfect shot for Instagram, many got into creative positions near the water in order to fully showcase their tropical vacation

And students weren't the only ones to make the most of their vacation; one police officer joined the fun by laughing and talking with partiers

To add an element of danger to the mix, a man repping Ohio State even had a large snake wrapped around his neck

As a result, DailyMail.com witnessed a number being carried off the beach by friends, while others were given a helping hand by police.

By 6pm on Monday, as students began making their way off the beach, the cops were out in force, with a prison van driven on to the beach at 5pm in anticipation of arrests.

On Friday alone, 35 arrests were made – the majority for being drunk and disorderly – with a further 53 on Saturday and 41 on Sunday. Monday had the most, at 55, as the trend went up.

Officer J. Rodriguez of the Miami Beach police department said: 'There's always a few arrests every day during Spring Break – most for being drunk and disorderly.

'It's mostly because they [students] can't handle their liquor. Look at them – they can't handle it.'

He added: 'We're always expecting some trouble. Have a look at the beach between 5 and 6pm and it will all be going off.

'All of us are doing overtime during Spring Break – it goes on for five weeks. It's usually worse at the weekends. Come on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and you'll see cops everywhere.'

Ice, ice baby: This man clearly had the key to beach-side romance as he a clutched a pack of gum behind his back while a woman wrapped her arms around his neck

Other partiers had different accessories for the day: sunglasses and a bag of wine

The police officer chatting with partygoers was also spotted taking a picture with one woman, who stood on the back of his beach police crusier and stuck her tongue out

One woman sporting flash tats looked on with amusement as her friend twerked by the water's edge

She then clearly decided to get in on the fun and showed another friend her moves

The group of friends, each wearing colorful, patterned bikinis, took time away from dancing to take a photo together

Others seemed less content at their surroundings; two women spotted clutching drinks in pineapple cups looked unhappy as they checked their phones

A full range of beach attire was on display, as some opted for more simplistic choices

Three women in matching white bathing suits - who accessorized with pastel fannypacks - posed for the camera by the water

On the days DailyMail.com visited, 10 police ATV vehicles, four cop cars and a prison van could be seen patrolling the sand, while other officers kept an eye on the scene from a tower positioned at the top of the beach.

But that wasn't enough to deter students, some of whom had traveled from as far as Connecticut, from partying on the sand.

Most came prepared with portable speakers – playing loud rap music in defiance of a local ordinance banning thumping music on the beach, while cops turned a blind eye.

Others were spotted twerking in large dancing circles, flashing their breasts, sporting an array of highly revealing bikinis and openly smoking joints on the sand.

Later on, a number of students were seen fighting, including a couple whose bust-up became so vicious, it required an intervention from cops, who told them: 'You're here to have fun, you don't need a record as well'.

Not all of the college kids appreciated the police effort, however. Ali Castrovillari and Jessica Guardado, both 21 and students at the University of Rhode Island, told DailyMail.com: 'F*** the cops. Cops are no fun – they drive around and ruin everything.'

Jessica added: 'I'm here to party and I stayed up until 8am this morning. Miami is pretty expensive but you've got to live in the moment, and anyway, money is for spending.

'I'm here with all my best friends, so I'm having a blast.'

Armani Haas, 21, who traveled from Case Western University in Ohio, added: 'Miami has been a lot of fun, it has been great.

'The craziest thing I've seen so far is a couple banging in the ocean on the first night we were here. You see a lot of weird things.'

Miami is one of the most popular Spring Break destinations, despite being relatively expensive, and in south Florida, is only beaten by Fort Lauderdale – a 30-mile drive up the coast. It too had a string of arrests - 82 on Saturday, the same number on Sunday and 86 on Monday.

Other popular Florida destinations include Panama City Beach, Daytona Beach and the southernmost city in the U.S., Key West.

Events in Miami during Spring Break include boat and beach parties, as well as performances from artists like Ty Dolla Sign, who took to the stage at the popular club Liv on Sunday night.

One man walking out of the ocean looked a little worse for the wear as he held a bottle of peach brandy in one hand and his phone in the other

Later, his friend took time off from playing football to offer up the liquor to other partiers

Meanwhile, the police cruiser was back on the scene, winding its way through people lounging on the sand and talking in groups

A group of men celebrated Spring Break together under proudly displayed flags brought out for the occasion

But one of them, gripping the omnipresent bag of wine, was all too wary of the cop in their midst

No bag of wine, no problem: Other partiers went old-school and drank from red plastic cups in the ocean

One woman with outspread arms was spotting either celebrating a day well spent, or announcing her arrival to the beach scene

A woman who fell into the ocean, soaking her purse, didn't look too worried about the situation as her friend helped her up

Another partygoer was content dancing on her own, as she sported what looked like body paint

Two men, one on the left and one on the right, each had very different reactions to the two girls dancing in front of them

Three women clearly knew their best angles as they posed by the water in black hats

Others had a serene moment away from it all, looking off at the water while drinking from Solo cups

Two friends in sunglasses enjoy the sun as they pose with their arms around each other

Four women, all in matching red bathing suits, struck a pose together by the ocean

Two police officers, who shielded themselves from the sun under large umbrellas, sat back and watched the festivities unfold

Other events put on to appeal to Spring Breakers include the annual model beach volleyball tournament, which takes place on the second Sunday of March and sees teams from agencies such as Ford and Elite take to the field.

In the nation as a whole, Spring Break is worth an estimated $1 billion a year to businesses ranging from nightclubs, to bars, restaurants and hotels.

But for local law enforcement in Miami, as well as Panama City Beach, Fort Lauderdale and others, Spring Break can prove a nightmare, with arrests spiking in all three throughout the six-week season.

As a result, many visitors bureaus attempting to discourage Spring Breakers; among them being Fort Lauderdale, which saw four fights break out within the space of 20 minutes on Saturday afternoon.

Jessica Savage, of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, told DailyMail.com: 'The behavior seen on Saturday is unfortunate and unwelcome.

'This is not the type of behavior or visitor that we encourage coming to Greater Fort Lauderdale.'

She added: 'We have worked hard for more than 25 years to evolve the destination from a Spring Breaker haven to one that welcomes more families, affluent travelers, meetings and conference attendees.'

Officer Alvaro Zabaleta, of Miami PD, told DailyMail.com that the department isn't expecting an unusual amount of trouble but is concerned about drug and alcohol use by students.

He said: 'We are concerned with the alcohol and drug use that can lead to dangerous situations.

'Most of the trouble our officers encounter is disorderly intoxication, battery, assaults and driving under the influence to name but a few.'

Officer Zabaleta added: 'We strongly encourage our college students visiting during Spring Break to enjoy themselves responsibly.

'Never travel alone. Do not leave your drink unattended and say no to drugs.'

Michael Hicks, of Visit Panama City Beach, added: 'In 2016, city and county leaders enacted ordinances to ensure Panama City Beach remains family-friendly year-round.

'To protect that year-round growth and visitation, a ban on alcohol consumption on the sandy beach has been enacted for the month of March, going forward.

'The party crowds moved on more or less immediately after that March ban went into place, and more importantly, new family-friendly events have been added to draw families and professionals to the beach during that time.

'Today's Panama City Beach is much more than past Spring Break headlines.'

Friends take a picture together as one man in the middle shows off a new trick with a Corona bottle - on a beach where drinking is banned

Miller (lite) time: A group of men pose on the sand with their beer of choice

Sharing is caring: A man gives another partier a hit of a suspicious-looking cigarette as a friend looks on

Pass the courvoisier: A man grips a handle of Hennessy and chats on the phone, while another holds a beverage looks off into the distance

Photo for mom? Two friends cozy up together in vacation shot with the sea serving as the background

Police officers convene in front of squad cars and bicycles. The local police department says Spring Break is one of its busiest times

Events put on to appeal to Spring Breakers include the annual model beach volleyball tournament, which takes place on the second Sunday of March and sees teams from agencies such as Ford and Elite take to the field

Competition was certainly fierce, as one athlete got into a splits-like position to hit the ball

A group of men, carrying a 'Don't Tread on Me' flag and pulling coolers, looked determined to take on the beach - while the partier in the back looked a bit wary

Help: Two people look down at their friend who's fallen down on the sand, as police officers stand by and access the situation