CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Over the next few weeks, thousands of people from all over will make their way to South Texas to enjoy some fun in the sun.
The City of Corpus Christi held a news conference Friday to remind everyone about various activities and some rules that are in effect during Spring Break.
Some things to keep in mind when visiting our local beaches is that the speed limit is 15 miles per hour on the beach, and beach parking permits are required.
Camping is also prohibited in front of condos and hotels.
City Manager Peter Zanoni said they hope to keep everyone safe this Spring Break.
"Our police department does have extra forces on duty to watch for things like illegal drinking, drinking and driving," Zanoni said. "We want to have fun but we want to be safe at the same time."
For more information from the City, visit http://www.cctexas.com/springbreak
Know Your Location
911 dispatchers have come up with a system for beachgoers to better relay their location in case of an emergency.
Corpus Christi beaches have different color-coded areas with signs and reflective tape to help identify corresponding locations.
For example, the area from Zahn Road to Newport Pass, which includes J.P. Luby Surf Park, is in green. If there is an emergency in that area, the caller would let dispatchers know they are in the green area to help police locate them quickly.
The color-coded map will be available at lifeguard stands.
Rip Currents
More colors to look out for -- beach warning flags indicate the condition of the water. A white flag with a red cross will indicate a lifeguard stand, but the green, yellow or red flags will tell you the surf conditions.
Remember, red flags indicate a high risk for rip currents, which can pull you deeper into the water and make it difficult to return to shore (if you are ever caught in this situation, remember to keep calm, wave for help, and swim parallel to shore until you are free of the current).
The City and County will also use electronic Texas Department of Transportation signs to warn people of rip current dangers.
To check the surf conditions before heading out to the beach, click here.
Rules of the Beach
The Parks and Recreation Department is implementing some rules they want everyone to keep in mind this Spring Break.
- No glass containers will be allowed on the beach.
- No dogs will be allowed on the beach from March 7-22.
- Litter must be thrown in trash bins.
If you are going to McGee or North Beach, there are some additional rules, which include:
- No driving on the beach.
- No barbecues.
- No inflatable toys.
- No campfires.
For more beach rules, click here.
Beach Parking Permits
Don't forget, you need a beach parking permit.
Permits cost $12 and are available at locations around the city. Money raised from the sale of parking permits helps keep beaches clean and safe for visitors.
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