The Arizona Republic Newspaper

by Bob Golfen and Yvonne Wingett
The Arizona Republic Newspaper
May. 6, 2004, Local Section page B-6

PHOENIX AZ. A controversial bill designed to control cruising hit a red light in the Arizona House after a series of protests and rallies by low-rider clubs and automotive hobbyists.

The proposed legislation, HB2136, was killed by a 37-19 vote, a strong turnaround from March, when it passed 41-17.

The vote Tuesday was on a version approved in the Senate April 8. If it had passed, it would have gone to the governor for signing.

Opponents called the bill "vague and heavy-handed." They took action after the Senate passage, with low-riders, car hobbyists and car customizers from across the Valley turning out to protest the bill at four separate rallies in front of the Az State Capitol.

"It was a very grassroots campaign, but it worked," said Bill Gilmore, an automotive hobbyist and appraiser with Automotive Research Services in Phoenix. "Cruising is not a crime, and thank God the legislators agreed on that."

The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Nelson, R-Glendale, would have allowed local jurisdictions to make cruising illegal, and ticket and tow offenders' cars. It came in response to complaints from residents in the Maryvale area, who complained of crowded streets, noise and loitering caused by frequent cruising by low-riders.

Fire and police officials said the streets get so clogged at times that emergency vehicles would have trouble responding to calls.

The Maryvale area of Phoenix is favored by the low-rider clubs and recently was named one of the top cruising venues by the national Low Rider magazine. But although the low-riders were targeted by the bill, mainstream car clubs and street rodders were concerned that the measure also could be turned on them.

Rep. Nelson did not respond to calls for comment Wednesday.

"(The bill) was unfair and a violation of civil rights," said Johnny Lozoya Jr., who helped organize the protests and connected car aficionados with state leaders.

"We established a dialogue within the community and the youths that cruise. I think it made a difference."

It did with state representatives like Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, who changed his original yea vote in March to a nay on Tuesday.

Rep. Gallardo, who lives near Maryvale, acknowledges that west-side cruising is a problem but said it can't be solved with a "heavy-handed tactic."

"Trying to turn these kids into criminals by taking away their vehicles is not a solution," said Gallardo, adding that he's been stuck in the bumper-to-bumper gridlock caused by cruisers. "A lot of these kids that are cruising in the Maryvale area live in the area. They're looking for something to do. They like showing off their vehicles."

Rep. Gallardo plans on organizing a meeting between car clubs and Phoenix leaders to find a solution that will allow cruisers to roll the streets, but not to clog them.

Bill Gilmore called the rejection of the bill "an affirmation that cruising is a socially acceptable behavior." Although the problems with the Maryvale neighbors need to be resolved, he said the complaints during low-rider cruises and other car events are caused by a very tiny minority who cause the trouble.