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Cruising Laws / AB 436 (Alvarez) / Los Angeles Municipal Code Compliance

Council File 24-0037

Approved — the city has voted to remove its outdated cruising ban from the Municipal Code, aligning local law with California's 2024 state ban on local cruising restrictions. The ordinance passed council and is moving through final procedural steps.

Introduced
2024-01-09
Last changed
2026-05-27
Status
open
Expires
2028-05-22
Committee
Public Safety Committee
Mover
IMELDA PADILLA
Second
EUNISSES HERNANDEZ
References
City Attorney Report: R24-0491; R26-0225

Brief

Councilmember Imelda Padilla moved this file in January 2024 after California Assembly Bill 436 invalidated the city's 2006 cruising prohibition, effective January 1, 2024. The motion directs the City Attorney to align the Municipal Code with state law and provide guidance on permits, noise rules, and other regulations that remain enforceable. Council adopted the motion 14-0-1 in January 2026; the City Attorney's draft ordinance formally repealing the ban passed the Transportation Committee on May 27, 2026.

Full summary

California Assembly Bill 436, which took effect January 1, 2024, prohibits local governments from regulating cruising, preempting LA's own ban on the practice codified in Section 80.36.10 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. That section defines cruising as driving a motor vehicle two or more times within a six-hour period in a particular direction, and the city's rules also restricted low-riding vehicle modifications common in cruising culture. With state law rendering the local ban unenforceable, Councilmember Imelda Padilla moved this file in January 2024 to bring the Municipal Code into compliance and to clarify what city rules — permits, noise ordinances, and similar requirements — still legitimately apply to cruisers and cruising events. The need for action was underscored immediately: on January 6, 2024, just days after AB 436 took effect, organizers of a Cruise Night on Van Nuys Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley were told by LAPD's Van Nuys Division that vehicle code violations and Municipal Code provisions remained enforceable and that night street events require city-approved permits. That friction between state law and local enforcement practice was the direct impetus for Padilla's motion, seconded by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. The motion directed the City Attorney, in consultation with LAPD and the Department of Transportation, to report on what changes were needed and to produce educational guidance for the cruising community. Over the following two years the file worked through both the Public Safety and Transportation Committees. The City Attorney reported on AB 436's legal impact in October 2024, and the Department of Transportation submitted a community engagement report in March 2025. Both committees approved the matter, and the full Council adopted it 14-0-1 on January 27, 2026. The City Attorney then prepared a draft ordinance, transmitted April 15, 2026, that would formally repeal LAMC Section 80.36.10 — the provision prohibiting cruising — to bring the Municipal Code into alignment with California Vehicle Code Section 21100, which now bars local regulation of cruising. The draft was sent to the Board of Police Commissioners and LAPD for comment before council consideration. The Transportation Committee took up that draft ordinance on May 27, 2026, noting and filing the City Attorney's accompanying report and adopting the draft ordinance. The file remains technically open and referred to both the Public Safety and Transportation Committees, but the substantive work is complete: the city has formally moved to strip its own anti-cruising ban from the books in recognition that state law already made it a dead letter.

Activity (21)

  • 2026-05-27 Transportation Committee noted and filed the City Attorney report and adopted the draft Ordinance dated April 15, 2026.
  • 2026-05-22 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on May 27, 2026.
  • 2026-04-20 City Attorney document(s) referred to Public Safety Committee; Transportation Committee.
  • 2026-04-17 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated April 15, 2026.
  • 2026-01-28 Council action final.
  • 2026-01-27 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2026-01-23 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on January 27, 2026.
  • 2025-12-10 Public Safety Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2025-12-05 Public Safety Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on December 10, 2025.
  • 2025-03-26 Transportation Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2025-03-21 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on March 26, 2025.
  • 2025-03-21 Department of Transportation document(s) referred to Public Safety Committee; Transportation Committee.
  • 2025-03-20 Document(s) submitted by Department of Transportation, as follows:Department of Transportation report, dated March 19, 2025, relative to Assembly Bill 436 community engagement implementation.
  • 2024-10-10 City Attorney document(s) referred to Public Safety Committee; Transportation Committee.
  • 2024-10-10 Document(s) submitted by City Attorney, as follows:City Attorney report, dated October 9, 2024, relative to the impact of California Assembly Bill 436 to cruising laws and enforcement.
  • 2024-04-19 Council action final.
  • 2024-04-19 Council adopted item, as amended, forthwith.
  • 2024-04-16 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on April 19, 2024.
  • 2024-04-09 Public Safety Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2024-04-05 Public Safety Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on April 9, 2024.
  • 2024-01-09 Motion referred to Public Safety Committee.

Documents (19)

Council votes (1)

  • 2026-01-27 Adopted — 14-0-1 · Regular

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