CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : MODESTO : Officials Consider Ban on Cruising

Too much cruising along the Modesto strip that inspired George Lucas to film “American Graffiti” has led city officials to propose banning the popular pastime of the young. City officials have drafted ordinances that would prevent anyone from driving by certain checkpoints along McHenry Avenue more than once in four hours. Another ordinance would make it illegal to loiter on streets at night. The ordinances, which have not yet come before the City Council, were spurred by Police Chief Gerald McKenzie saying up to 5,000 cars cruise some evenings. “The threat of civil unrest is very real and demands our attention and best efforts to avert a disaster,” McKenzie wrote the city manager.