T.I. Beach Crackdown

TREASURE ISLAND - Treasure Island police were out in full force on Sunset Beach Saturday, the first day of a crackdown they say will continue through the summer.

Officers are looking for underage drinkers, illegally parked cars, and other offenses such as glass containers on the beach.

Sunset Beach has become a popular place since spring break, when non-islanders found out alcohol is still allowed on Treasure Island beaches.

The area around a popular beach bar is the strongest magnet.

Even some visitors from Denmark heard about Sunset Beach.

"Some neighbors from where we live, they told us, go to Caddies, there's a lot of girls and parties and stuff like that," Nicoloi Santernielsen said, "So now we're here and we're happy."

Some beachgoers are not happy about the increased patrols.

"The cops are trying to bust us up for hanging out," said one, "but we're not going to let them bother us. We're going to hang out."

Kristi Bramel is more supportive.

"It gets out of hand a lot," Bramel says. "A lot of younger kids, even over 20; you know, 21, 22, they come down here and play their drinking games and get pretty wasted."

According to a news release, the penalty for having glass containers on the beach is a $113 ticket.

Illegally parked cars will be ticketed and towed, and underage drinkers will be cited if they are over 18 years old.

Those younger than 18 will be held by the police until their parents pick them up.