Once harassed by police, lowriders can cruise across California under a new law

[Eugene]

Source: NPR

Once harassed by police, lowriders can cruise across California under a new law

October 17, 2023 7:01 PM ET
By Joe Hernandez

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law on Friday that lifts the restrictions on lowrider cruising, a cultural and artistic tradition developed by Latinos living in the Golden State.

Assemblymember David Alvarez, who sponsored the legislation, called it a "major win" for Californians.

"On behalf of the thousands of advocates who supported this culturally significant legislation, the low rider communities and car clubs from all over California, I would like to thank the Governor for signing AB 436 into law," Alvarez said in a tweet.

Lowrider culture was developed by Mexican Americans in and around Southern California after World War II. Enthusiasts modified cars to ride lower to the ground and gave them elaborate, colorful paint jobs. Groups of lowriders would drive their vehicles "low and slow" through town, a pastime known as cruising.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2023/10/17/1206625366/lowrider-cruising-california-end-ban

[Scottie Mom]

1. I love lowrider cars!

I'm just and old, white woman, but egads, those cars are wonderful!

Thanks for the thread!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. It's a crime against the universe to talk about lowriders without a pic...

[Scottie Mom]

4. Not sure on the year first one for certain, but

1957
1958
1964

I did this without looking at anything! Hope I am correct.

Before I went to law school, I taught HS in the barrio -- history was a really boring subject for a lot of my Hispanic kiddos. So, when a term paper in history was due, for my Hispanic guys, they were assigned topics like "The History of the Chevy Impala." They loved it and got a pass in history and we ended the semester with a car show in the school parking lot. Amazingly, even the ladies in the class often got into the "lowrider" history term papers because of their boyfriends.

I will never forget the pride that was shown as to the customization of these cars.

Still love them!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

5. Car show in HS parking lot!

You were awesome!

There is a tremendous amount of work in even a "plain" lowrider, or any other custom car. That pride is justified, I think.

[Scottie Mom]

6. Thank you!

The kiddos were awesome!

I ended up going to law school and later in years, some of my student became my clients. Mostly family law cases. I taught back in the early 1970s and I still here from some of these students.

Hard to believe that some are in their mid-50s! Man, does that make me feel old!

[gay texan]

3. Hell yeah

Im not a low rider gearhead, but damn, those cars are ART!!!

Very cool crowd to hang with