Don’t sleep on the beach. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t start any fires. Don’t jump off any balconies.

These are just some warnings issued by popular spring break locations in response to past fiascos. Southern city officials are bracing themselves for the influx of Northerners who migrate South in March.

Ron Herron, interim city manager for Key West, Fla., sent a letter to NIU asking students who go there to “review” and “adhere” to regulations.

In the letter, Herron explained Key West is densely populated and has limited public beach area. For these reasons, “we take very strict measures to protect our environment, citizens and all of our guests who come to vacation here.”

Herron’s letter also reminded migrating Northerners of Florida’s alcohol laws. The drinking age in the Sunshine State is 21 and alcohol is not allowed in public areas. Open containers of alcohol are prohibited in cars and other vehicles.

Barbara Henley, NIU acting vice president for student affairs, said although NIU does not receive many letters of this kind, “every now and then one will come in.”

She said she received similar letters from Texas last year and from Southern Illinois University last fall during Halloween. The letters are usually in response to things that have happened and to prevent them from happening again, Henley said.

While Daytona city officials have also sent warning letters to NIU, Fort Lauderdale has stopped sending letters.

“Spring break finally got so out of hand we just don’t send out any more letters,” said Nelda Perry, secretary to Fort Lauderdale’s city manager. “It started off really great, but it just became one of those things. No one was really ready for it.”

Perry said Fort Lauderdale beaches are being renovated and “the city is not encouraging visitation.” The city does not plan to send letters to universities, she said.

Daytona and Key West encourage spring break tourism, which is why letters were sent to inform students of their policies.

“The letters don’t scare people away,” said Grace Tenuta, NIU travel coordinator for Campus Activities Board. “They might watch themselves more, but they still go.”

Officials are “getting really strict enforcing alcohol policies,” she said.

Many alcohol policies are in response to problems with people hanging and jumping off balconies, as well as with other problems, Tenuta said.

About 220 people will go on CAB’s spring break trips this year. No one on a CAB-sponsored trip has been arrested for violating policies, she said.

“We meet with participants to discuss policies,” she said. Tenuta said the meetings usually keep students from getting arrested or getting into other trouble.

The 250-member NIU Huskie Marching Band migrated South last year and in past years. The band has never received a letter asking them to stay away from a city or to never return, said Frank Bibb, the band’s director.

“I got a horrible request from the hotel in Florida that we abide by their rules a little closer,” he said.