SACRAMENTO – Car clubs across Sacramento were having a big celebration marking the repeal of a controversial law that had been in place for more than three decades.
His push to bring back cruise ships is now spreading across the state.
Sacramento lowriders now legally display their custom cars. It’s been a year since the Sacramento City Council repealed the ordinance against cruise ships.
“We’re really glad it’s gone because now we can drive our cars and show them off,” said Antonio Cardenas, a Sacramento lowrider.
“We’ve come a long way in getting people to understand that lowriding is just another fun activity,” said Joe Ayala of the Sacramento Lowrider Commission.
The ban on street cruisers had been implemented more than 30 years ago, prompted by a series of violent assaults, vandalism and traffic congestion problems.
“In those days, he was mean and we used to fight and stuff,” Cárdenas said.
But now, a year after the ban was lifted, there have been no significant complaints.
“People need to realize that you have to watch yourself, which is what we’ve tried to do and let people know that we’re just like everybody else,” Ayala said.
The Broadway business district, which is a popular spot for cruising, says there have been no problems in the past year and the lowriders have been an economic boon for local merchants.
“There are car parts we have to buy, there are restaurants we like to patronize, gas stations to feed these beasts,” Ayala said.
Sacramento’s policy change is now behind repeals in other California cities like San Jose and Salinas.
“We’re getting calls from car clubs in these areas saying, ‘Hey, how did you do it? We want to do the same thing in our city,'” Ayala said.
There is now a bill pending in the state legislature that would ban laws banning cruise ships statewide.
“I’m very proud that Sacramento is going to come and do this,” Cardenas said.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” Ayala said.
The repeal of the cruising ban does not prevent the police from enforcing laws against sideshows and other dangerous driving offences.
