Cruise in downtown Fresno shuts down intersection, officers in search of options

FRESNO, California. (KGPE) – After a downtown Fresno cruise closed an intersection, Fresno police and city guides presented a safety plan.

Police said there were at least a few hundred vehicles on Fulton Street last night, causing heavy traffic.

“Fulton was pretty much at a standstill,” said Fresno Police Lt. Israel Reyes.

Cruises aren’t illegal, but Lt. Israel Reyes said last night they had caused problems including dragging 15 officers from other calls to direct traffic and emergency vehicles that do not have a clear path.

“When Fresno is secured like this, it really creates a public safety issue for the department and the city,” Reyes said.

In downtown Fresno, a car is lifted onto the back of a tow truck.

Charapan employee Christian Ventura said people drive through Fulton Street every Sunday from Easter to Halloween, but with them recent street races in townthere are concerns.

“Children come in their trucks and they think they can race and all that stuff and they don’t realize it’s a public cruise night,” Ventura said. “Where you don’t go more than 2-5 mph.”

Reyes said the cruise resulted in multiple shows and multiple quotes for taking over parking spaces.

Council Chairman Luis Chavez and several other council members hope to prevent this activity by sponsoring cruise nights on Kings Canyon Avenue in the future so that the city can regulate them.

“This will create a safer environment and show that the city of Fresno is now out of the pandemic,” Chavez said. “We want out of there and we want to be safe.”