"It was much tamer than any BCR I've experienced," said Paul Politis, owner of the Gator Beach & Sports gift shop and past president of the Beachside Merchants Association.

This year's BCR was also one of the smallest. Police said attendance was down by 15,000 people from last year, putting this year's crowd size at somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000.

Frank Heckman, chairman of the Beachside Neighborhood Watch, believed the crowd was even smaller.

"It would be a great stretch to say there were 30,000," Heckman said. It was quite a change from recent years when BCR would attract as many 120,000 visitors.

In contrast to memories of traffic gridlock and clamor, Heckman spoke glowingly of BCR visitors. "They're to be commended for respecting our community," Heckman said.

Heckman knew only of one or two noise complaints made to police.

Daytona Beach police Capt. S.W. Szabo said BCR was a "quiet event" with a "well-behaved crowd."

But visitors said the police were also quick to react to signs of trouble.

"The police is really on point," said Kenan Hill, a DeLand rapper also known as K-9. "They pull you over quick. A dude almost gave me a ticket (for sliding past a stop sign)."

Some visitors said they were annoyed by the aggressive law enforcement.

Corey Samuels, a 33-year-old visitor from Fort Lauderdale, said the police presence seems to "get worse every year."

Keisha Brown, 19, said she could hardly walk down Atlantic Avenue without a traffic cop telling her to "keep it moving, keep it moving."

"They were too strict," added LaToya Brown, 20, of Orlando.

Szabo said the policy was to be "fair but firm."

"We only enforce what we see as a violation," he said.

Heckman, the Beachside Neighborhood Watch chairman, said the "over-presence of police" would always be necessary for large crowds.

"I don't care if it's bunch of senior citizens blaring Guy Lombardo," he said.

Patrick Johnson, a 25-year-old BCR tourist from Atlanta, said he was not going to let a seat belt ticket ruin his weekend.

"Anytime you have a beach, you're going to have a good time," Johnson said.

Compared to last year, when BCR was marred by a shooting, Politis said BCR would benefit from the positive publicity of a well-run event, which would more than make up from any drop in business. "It bodes well for us as far as the message it sends to the rest of the nation."

But Larry Geter, a sidewalk vendor whose business is called "Doo Dad's Express Seafood," said he made more money in spite of the smaller crowd.

He attributed the good business to the "perfect weather."

"I will definitely be back (next year)," said the vendor from Woodbine, Ga.

jim.haug@news-jrnl.com