California lowrider cruise bill lands on Newsom’s desk

SAN DIEGO — A bill that could legalize lowrider cruises in California is now just waiting for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature.

The National City-based United Lowrider Coalition worked with Rep. David Alvarez to help draft the bill.

“We all listened and just tears, tears of joy.”

That was Jovita Arellano’s reaction last Thursday when AB 436 was among the bills that needed to be passed by the California legislative deadline. Arellano is president of the coalition.

AB 436 passed with overwhelming support in both the state Assembly and Senate.

“It shows that they understand. They embrace the lowrider community, they embrace our culture, they embrace the art,” Arellano told FOX 5.

Since the 1980s, state vehicle regulations have allowed local governments across California to restrict motorists from driving cars adjusted to a certain height. AB 436 would remove these restrictions.

“It’s no longer the late ’80s, early ’90s, and now I think lowriding is viewed more as a cultural practice and an art form. I think the perspective is starting to change,” said Marisa Rosales, vice president of the coalition.

Arellano and Rosales call the effort they put into this bill not a battle, but a journey. The final destination is now Newsom’s desk, where the bill awaits his signature. The governor has until October 14 to pass or veto the bill.

Until then, the United Lowrider Coalition celebrates everything it has been a part of to get to this point, including the re-legalization of cruising in National City, a state cruise resolution passed in 2022, and of course AB 436.

They are so proud of their work that Rosales celebrated it all with a tattoo.

“Because these are things that we brought here from National City and San Diego and that inspired us. And because cruising means so much to me,” Rosales said.