Police to ramp up enforcement of Easter Sunday cruising on Santa Ana streets amid coronavirus

Police efforts to crack down on the Easter Sunday tradition of cruising on Santa Ana’s streets have an increased urgency this year, as officials plan to ramp up enforcement and encourage residents to stay home in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

In past years, hundreds of drivers, many of whom belong to local low-rider clubs, have congregated on Bristol Street to celebrate the unofficial start of the city’s summer season.

Easter cruising has long presented a challenge for police, drawing large crowds, congested roadways and the possibility of increased criminal activity.

Police are now taking a zero-tolerance approach for those who plan to disobey stay-at-home orders on Easter, with road closures and lane restrictions planned and extra officers at the ready.

“This year is a little unique, because while we want to enforce the laws and ensure the safety of all involved, we have a more specific goal of flattening the curve (of coronavirus infections),” said Cmdr. Chuck Elms, who oversees the Santa Ana Police Department’s traffic division. “We want people to stay at home. A substantial number of people are asymptomatic. We don’t want people coming out, congregating in large groups and potentially spreading COVID-19 and bringing it home to their families.”

More than 85 Santa Ana officers – including the entire traffic division and members of the gang unit and the major enforcement team – will take part in anti-cruising efforts on Easter, Elms said. Another 100 officers will be available if needed, the commander added.

“We hope that we are well-prepared but no one comes out,” Elms said. “But if people choose to disobey the order, we will be ready.”

With less traffic expected due to the stay at home orders, police are doubling the number of barricades and street closures in order to head off street racing.

Among the traffic restrictions planned for Easter are road or lane closer on Bristol Street from 17th Street to Callen’s Common, Main Street from 17th Street to Dyer Road, Edinger Avenue from Main Street to Raitt Street and Harbor Boulevard between Westminster Avenue and Edinger Avenue.

The decades’ old tradition began with car enthusiasts who wanted to show off the cars they had spent the winter months working on. During some years in the early 90s – as rival gangs, clubs and street racers and an increasing number of bystanders took part in the annual event – police at times contended with groups taking over intersections and marring the festivities with fights and shootings.

The violence surrounding the event has dropped substantially since then. In recent years, Elms said, Easter cruising in Santa Ana has been busy, but relatively peaceful.

“People have been cooped up for the past two weeks,” Elms said. “We hope that this isn’t their excuse to get out and disobey the stay at home order.”