New research has revealed the U.S. spring break destinations with the highest arrest rates, with South Padre Island, Texas, topping the list.
The study, conducted by Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers, analyzed arrest data from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, focusing on the top spring break destinations in the U.S. based on Google searches. The destinations were ranked from highest to lowest according to their arrest rate per 100,000 people, using the most recent data from March 2023.
READ: Over 20 Arrested As Tampa Police Crack Down On Spring Break Crime
Here’s a summary of the top 10 most dangerous spring break destinations:
Rank Destination State Police Department arrest rate per 100,000 people:
- 1 South Padre Island Texas 10,400
- 2 Myrtle Beach South Carolina 1,939
- 3 Gulf Shores Alabama 1,220
- 4 Galveston Texas 521
- 5 Key West Florida 464
- 6 Palm Springs California 336
- 7 New Orleans Louisiana 327
- 8 Lake Havasu Arizona 316
- 9 Sedona Arizona 315
- 10 Monterey California 314
The study found that South Padre Island, which sees around 4,990 monthly spring break-related searches, had the highest arrest rate. In March 2023, the arrest rate was a staggering 10,400 per 100,000 people, meaning roughly one in ten people were arrested. This high rate is attributed to the influx of tourists, which reached 2.1 million in March 2022, compared to the island’s small population of over 2,000.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, ranked second with an arrest rate of 1,939 per 100,000 people. The city averages around 2,360 spring break-related searches per month and attracts tens of thousands of tourists annually.
READ: Former Hillsborough County Deputy, School Employee Arrested After Road Rage Assault
Gulf Shores, Alabama, came in third with an arrest rate of 1,220 per 100,000 people. The area averages 750 spring break-related searches monthly and is popular for its beaches, waters, weather, and activities.
Galveston, Texas, and Key West, Florida, completed the top five.
A spokesperson for Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers commented on the findings, stating, “While big and small areas feature on this list, spring break will bring an influx of young people likely looking for parties and hot weather, and this can dramatically change the feel of a place over the spring season. This sudden influx can have its pros, with a boost to the local economy, but also its cons, with a high arrest rate potentially damaging an area’s reputation and deterring visitors in the other seasons of the year. Additionally, legal issues at any age are not fun, and if you are a current or prospective spring breaker, you should follow local laws and stay aware of your personal safety to avoid trouble.”
The study’s methodology involved analyzing 35 spring break destinations based on Google searches and sourcing arrest rate data from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer.
Methodology:
- 35 spring break destinations were studied, based on the number of Google searches for them alongside the words “spring break”.
- From this, data from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer was sourced, which showed the latest available March 2023 arrest rate for each of their local Police Departments.
- Destinations were ranked highest to lowest based on this.
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