Why did the government ban these cars?

Golden State municipalities are finally overturning their anti-cruising ordinances.
reason.com/video/2023/06/27/t...
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Lowriding has been a part of Southern California and Chicano culture since the post-World War II era when hobbyists started using spare hydraulics from surplus aircraft parts to customize cars to ride "low and slow."
"Owning a car is the American dream," says Denise Sandoval, a professor of Chicano studies at California State University, Northridge. "Lowriding is a great example, just like hip-hop, of people using culture to tell their stories, to mark space in the United States, to say, 'This is what makes us unique.'"
By the '90s, lowriding became associated with crime and gang activity. There were also complaints that it was clogging major arteries and contributing to traffic congestion.
"You begin to see in the '90s, particularly here in L.A., anti-cruising ordinances," says Sandoval. "Black or brown men would be hanging out in the street…and the police could use them to crack down."
Vincent Palacios, who owns a car repair and alteration shop in Lemon Grove, has been lowriding since he was a teenager. He recalls when cruising was first shut down on Highland Avenue. "The police started harassing us…. They would actually measure [the height of the car] with a cigarette pack [to determine] if you were illegal."
In the past few years, Palacios has teamed up with other lowriding enthusiasts, including Jovita Arellano, the president of the United Lowrider Coalition, and her husband, Marcos "Rabbit" Arellano, to build political support for making cruising legal again. And they were successful: Last year, National City joined several other municipalities in overturning their bans, and the California Legislature encouraged cities to reconsider their policies and start working with the lowrider community.
To address the traffic issue, Sandoval says hobbyists have started collaborating with law enforcement to identify spaces for cruising that aren't a "public nuisance." State law still permits localities to institute bans, but there's a movement to change that as well.
"For me, lowriding is just enjoying going out on a nice day and hanging out with my friends and hearing great music," says Palacios. "It's a way of life."
News/Archival Credits: NBC; CBS; ABC; KNTV Channel 11 News; Herman Baca Papers; Low Rider Magazine June 1982: Chicano Park Fifth Annual
Music: artlist.io
Photos: Vincent Palacios; Dave Parker; vhines200/Flickr; Johnny Lozoya/Low Rider Magazine
Special thanks to Arturo Meza II
Producer: Aaron Adler / Dec8 Productions
Camera: Qinling Li & Arthur Nazaryan
Director: Qinling Li & Arthur Nazaryan / Dec8 Productions
Editor: Qinling Li

[@a-love-supremist]

rather be stuck behind lowriders than these maniacs going 80 in a 45 weaving through lanes just to get to a red light

[@wompa70]

I graduated high school in 1988 in a small town in Florida. Cruising was banned. Raised trucks were banned. Slammed cars were banned. Loud car stereos were banned. Loud exhausts we’re banned.

[@TickedOffPriest]

If you let them ban one thing, they will ban another.

[@shellyscholz1256]

The government should ban cruising because it brings people together as a community. Everyone should have their face glued to a screen and have zero in person interaction. They fight much better with no basis of reality that might help them get a life and a community. Who wants people United in these States? Or, right….WE THE PEOPLE!

[@snakeyman5560]

Im so glad you guys are making documentaries again.

[@smicksmookety]

Now that property destruction and theft have been decriminalized, low riding is long overdue.

[@dadsoutdoors]

Great to see cruising and the lowriders back! Great coverage Reason!

[@mintcrisp94]

It's really nice seeing reason showcase some of the more niche communities that are benefiting from less government. Techies, Car guys and so many more communities thrive when big brother isn't trying to control every aspect down to how low your car can be off the ground. Another group similar to low riders is the bobber/chopper scene, a lot of really cool designs and people involved. Sadly, in many areas these are impossible to build due to laws around modifying the frame of your vehicle and similar issues.

[@nf4833]

How about let people be free as long as they aren’t causing loss injury or harm to anyone or anyone’s property

[@DarkHorseSki]

I've never liked low rider cars, but I am fine with people having fun with their cars in ways like that.

[@michaellowe3665]

Smoking isn't as popular now so they cant measure the car height with a pack. Now if your car runs over the hyperdermic needles on the street its ok. If it pushes them, you get a ticket.

[@ladylestranj]

Cruising and listening to KRLA on the radio - Good times......

[@1lowisuzu661]

Lowriding, Minitruckin, and Hot Rodding have always been great for community building. Love to see these ordinances loosening up

[@benjaminlibertarianscorpio]

growing up in Southern California close to the city of Santa Ana, I am very aware and familiar with Lowriders. Santa Ana is a city south of Los Angeles in Orange County. I grew up in the city of Orange, which is also the hometown of Mike Pompeo and the location of Chapman University.

[@tracyhurst4393]

I think I know why it was banned. It's because you live in CALIFORNIA. Not only do they NOT want you to cruise, but they don't even want you to drive a car with a gasoline engine. If you are a "good" citizen, they might let you drive an electric car. Otherwise, you are supposed to take public transportation.

[@Scoots1994]

LA car culture is always under attack by the man.

[@joshkleifgen6525]

We have anti cruise laws here even in the Midwest. I knew a guy who delivered pizza on Hwy 100 in MKE and he'd get pulled over all of the time because the cops saw him all night and they accused him of cruising.

[@tylerkinley268]

Same reason the government screws with anything; because someone else is having fun, so they must fuck it up.

[@gigginbig3]

Only democrats will ban low riding but not smoking crack at a bustop

[@pattyotool9548]

a law that stops you from doing what you love is unjust in this case what part of serve and protect did it fall under?? besides a bunch of haters hating