City of Sacramento repeals no cruising ordinance

The Sacramento City Council Tuesday voted unanimously to right a historic wrong with the repeal of the 1988 ordinance banning cruising. The repeal was brought forward by Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, who worked closely with the Sacramento Lowrider Commission to obtain the support of city officials, the police department, and neighborhood groups.

“This is a proud night, and I am proud to cast an aye vote for this,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “Unanimous is the only way a vote like this should be.”

The ordinance itself was no longer enforced regularly, according to the Sacramento Police Department. Other traffic laws allow the police to respond and take enforcement action against illegal, dangerous activity such as reckless driving and exhibitionist driving like sideshows.

Yet “NO CRUISING” signs remain posted in traditionally Latino neighborhoods — a reminder of the historic stigma surrounding lowriding, which is today seen as an art form and family-friendly form of fun. These signs will be removed and distributed to lowrider clubs, city officials said.

Mayor Steinberg and Councilmember Valenzuela join lowrider car clubs in Cesar Chavez park before the vote on May 31, 2022

“Reckless driving is basically the opposite of lowriding," said Mayor Pro Tempore Eric Guerra, “No one wants dirt and gravel kicking up and ruining the paint on these works of art.”