Assembly Bill 436, 2023 (Alvarez), was signed by Governor Newsom in the Fall of 2023 and became California law 1/1/2024.
The idea: The United Lowrider Coalition had grown frustrated with the challenges we were facing in the process of attempting to repeal the Cruising Ban on Highland Ave in National City, California. As the ULC was strategizing on how we could ensure that cruising was not a crime in National City, it was clear to us, that the only reason that National City was able to create a anti-cruising ordinance, is because state law allowed them to. Many other organized Lowrider groups across the state (and in the California Lowrider Alliance) were feeling the same way. As cities in California began to repeal their cruising bans, frustrations with the city of National City grew, the city was proposing a probation period of “organized cruises” to assess the feasibility of repealing the cruising ban.
Meanwhile, inspired by what groups like the United Lowrider Coalition were doing to repeal local cruising bans, Assemblymember Luz Rivas was also instrumental to the movement to repeal cruising bans statewide. In April 2022 Assemblymember Rivas authored ACR 176, which would celebrate the history and culture of cruising and encourage local officials and law enforcement to work with local car clubs to conduct safe cruising events. It was ultimately adopted with bipartisan support 8/22/2022
The first “Trial Cruise” on May 6th 2022 was a success in the eyes of the United Lowrider Coalition . After decades of being suppressed, cruising would be legal, even if only for a day, for a few hours on a specific street and route. Filled with joy and excitement people came out from near and far to celebrate this joyous occasion:
(PHOTO GALLERY FROM May 6th Cruise)
(NEWS COVERAGE OF May 6th Cruise)
The joy from May 6th quickly turned into concern from National City. They wanted to modify the agreement for future cruises and were going to create the need for excessive fees for future events.
Lowrider cruising in National City could come with a hefty price tag for organizers
Article: San Diego Union Tribune 5/18/22 written by: Tammy Murga)
After the all the work the ULC had poured into repealing the Anti-Cruising ordinance, suddenly it felt like we had taken several steps backwards. The ULC decided to cancel the future planned cruises and go back to focusing on repealing the city ordinance by building the movement and planting the seeds for a statewide angle to repeal cruising bans.
During 2022, the California Lowrider Alliance was formed. This coalition was inspired by the work going on across the state to repeal their local ordinances and organized to work together to get this done. There was a series of meetings amongst the various stakeholders and through those conversations strategy for local and statewide efforts were inspired. Some of the cities represented in the alliance had ready and willing city councils and Mayors that helped repeal cruising bans in cities like San Jose and Sacramento. San Jose’s city even held an event at City Hall to commemorate the removal of the No Cruising Signs. This event proved to be a huge inspiration for the members of the ULC who flew to San Jose to witness the historic event.
Upon their return to San Diego, the ULC was inspired and motivated to keep doing what we do by making our community a better place, being role models and using Lowriders to inspire others. There was also a renewed commitment to repeal the National City Cruising ban by any means necessary, including pushing for statewide action if necessary.
Early in 2023 the ULC met with newly elected Assemblymember David Alvarez and presented the opportunity to author a bill to repeal the law that allowed cities to enact cruising bans, in effect, repealing cruising bans across the state of California. Assemblymember Alvarez agreed with the logic, that cruising bans had unfairly targeted communities of color and that the time was right to make sure “Cruising is NOT A CRIME!”. The numbering for “Assembly bill 619” proved to be a challenge to get from a timing standpoint, so ultimately AB 436 was born.
On 2/2/2023, Assembly Bill 436 was born (read for the first time and sent to print.) David Alvarez was the Author and The United Lowrider Coalition and California Lowrider Alliance were co-sponsors of the bill. The idea immediately gathered local and National attention:
Lowriding was born in California but it’s restricted. Lawmakers want to change that
Article:npr.org 2/16/23 (written by Joe Hernandez)
When AB 436 was first heard at committee, the United Lowrider Coalition and members from the California Lowrider Alliance, along with a grassroots group of activists who had risen across the state, all poured in letters and phone calls of support for AB 436.
The support would continue each and every committee hearing. Supporters from across the state were building a real statewide movement and it was showing up when it mattered, at their local city councils and at the state Capitol.
While working on statewide efforts, the new city council dynamics in National City proved to be pivotal for the ULC to start gaining ground on the National City repeal. AB 436 proved to be a successful strategy in encouraging a renewed approach to the National City cruising ban repeal after failed efforts in 2022.
In 2023 National City began the process to repeal the cruising ban with support from Councilmembers Marcus Bush and Jose Rodriguez.
The ban was ultimately repealed and the ULC celebrated.
After three decades, National City ends cruising ban. ‘It just feels so good’
PAUL SISSON San Diego Union Tribune APRIL 5, 2023
The ULC didn’t celebrate too long, the efforts to repeal statewide were not over yet.
Ultimately after passing through Assembly and Senate committees with bipartisan support, AB 436 was sent to the Governors desk for signature
AB 436 was signed into law in October of 2023.
In December of 2023 The United Lowrider Coalition gathered in National City to celebrate the passage of AB 436 with Assemblymember Alvarez and staff from Governor Newsom’s office
On January 1st 2024 Assembly Bill 436 AKA “Cruising is Not a Crime Bill” officially became state law.
The United Lowrider Coalition celebrated all day long. Starting with a sunrise cruise to Mission Beach to celebrate to repeal of the City of San Diego’s Cruising Ban in Mission Beach. From there the ULC and supporters cruised to Chicano Park to support the Oldies CC New Years Menudo event. At noon, the ULC cruised down the historic cruising route up Highland, up National, through Chicano Park and up 25th to Golden Hill park where the route turned around and returned back South the Highland.