02/22/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e e e communities and to the rest of the state by this decision. Mr. Belz said the right decision needed to show leadership by protecting the rights of all citizens, those who were cruising as well as those who lived in the area. He said the community also needed to consider the image presented to the rest of the world in protecting the right of citizens to free movement. Ronnie M. Graham, 1202 President Street, spoke in opposition to the ordinance. Mr. Graham said he was employed by a local bakery and was president of the Inter Car Club Council of the Eugene-Springfield area, a coalition of 24 auto sports clubs in the area, with more than 3,000 family members. He said the organization's purpose included preservation and enhancement of classic autos and the conduct of motor sport activities. Mr. Graham said the group recognized fully the problems faced by neighborhood residents, businesses, and law enforcement personnel as related to activity on South Willamette Street and on West 11th Avenue and fully supported the enforcement of existing laws to control these problems. He said the group also recognized, however, that cruising had been a vital part of Americana for nearly 40 years and would continue to be as long as automobiles were built to satisfy our egos. He added he was willing to guess that most of those present had at one time or another participated in this uniquely American activity, either to show off a car or to search out companionship. Mr. Graham said the Eugene anti-cruising ordinance was similar to laws passed in Portland; Seattle; Kent, Washington; and various eastern cities. He said information from nationwide clubs indicated that such ordinances did not stop cruising, but merely served to disperse the activity to other pocket locations, which further complicated law enforcement efforts. Where negative or criminal behavior occurs with cruising, such ordinances tended only to drive the activity underground. He said he was reminded of a statement that at least when kids were cruising, their whereabouts were known and they could be watched. He said the group believed that, in the interests of our community, youth, and the general public, such a philosophy deserved careful consideration by members of the council. Mr. Graham expressed concern about the broad discretionary power that such ordinances placed in the hands of police officers, giving individual officers rights to declare emergencies, close certain streets to cruising activity, and to begin discriminate distribution of citations. He said identification of cruising could allow selective enforcement, and he was concerned that officers would become overzealous with the "protect" portion of their motto and to forget about the "serve" portion. Mr. Graham said most ordinances defined cruising so liberally that it would apply to people who went to the store, forgot to collect their change, and later returned. He said activity in and around Autzen Stadium, MacArthur Court, and community events also could constitute cruising problems. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 22, 1988 Page 5