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Anti-Cruising Ordinance Informational Report <br />November 15, 2022 <br />Page 2 <br />3 <br />0 <br />7 <br />9 <br />Staff has observed that cruising escalates on major holidays, such as Easter Sunday, <br />Cinco de Mayo, and other special days, such as days following major sporting events. <br />The intensity of cruising and accompanying activities during major holidays and other <br />special days exacerbate the adverse effects that accompany cruising. In response, the <br />Santa Ana Police Department has historically staffed additional uniformed personnel on <br />weekends for decades to keep cruising and related issues under control. <br />Although the City’s anti-cruising ordinance has been in place since 1989, cruising is still <br />prevalent. Cruising and street takeovers share many characteristics and similarities. For <br />example, cruising and takeovers often begin with meet-ups, also referred to as “park and <br />chills” (“P/Cs”), at predetermined locations where the organizers might believe they will <br />be met with the least amount of police presence and enforcement. At these P/Cs, <br />attendees and spectators may take over parking lots and may often deface the surface <br />with "burnouts”, costing business owners repair costs and lost profits. The Police <br />Department continues to experience problems with lowrider clubs that occupy shopping <br />centers and parking lots where participants do “burnouts.” In addition, it is common for <br />participants to consume alcohol, litter, and loudly rev their engines to show off their <br />exhaust systems, creating various problems for the area residents. These new types of <br />events are typically promoted by social media platforms and the entertainment industry. <br />Oftentimes, these events draw car enthusiasts and organizers from out of town. These <br />effects are evidenced by observations by the Police Department and informed by <br />complaints received by the public. <br />During Intersection/Street Takeovers (“ITOs”), Street Racing (“S/R”), and Park and Chills <br />(“P/Cs”), it is not uncommon to have significant intersections blocked by two to three <br />hundred spectators watching vehicles doing "donuts." The spectators, often with violent <br />behavior, serve as "blockers" to protect the drivers from the police while doing "donuts". <br />These events often can have up to 500 vehicles that take over shopping centers and <br />business complexes, with little to no benefit to surrounding businesses. These events <br />often result in defaced surfaces with tire marks, along with numerous noise complaints <br />from those activities. To the community’s detriment, the transformation from cruising to <br />the latest trend has intensified the same problems that communities have been <br />experiencing for decades. <br />To illustrate the effects of crusing and related activities, below is a sample list of recent, <br />significant incidents that have occurred in Southern California: <br />1. "Two people were shot dead and five others wounded by gunfire at Los Angeles park <br />on Sunday after shooting broke out at an informal car show in the community of San <br />Pedro…." – Reuters <br />2. "Orange County Register editor killed in Santa Ana crash – Eugene Harbrecht was <br />making a turn in his truck when a racing car slammed into it…." – Orange County Register