Reckless cruisers jeopardize Main Street pastime

Kalispell’s downtown cruisers are dealing with a few rotten apples that threaten to spoil the bunch.

The popular Friday night activity is back in the spotlight as the City Council once again heard complaints about ongoing disturbances related to reckless cruisers.

Speeding, burnouts and obnoxious exhaust are the perfect recipe to draw the ire of businesses and residents around Main Street. As tourism season ramps up and hot summer nights draw more cruisers into town, it’s essential that steps are taken to curb the troublemakers so this classic American pastime can roll on.

Thankfully, the Downtown Forward Coalition has taken the pole position in finding a solution. By engaging in conversations with cruising enthusiasts, the downtown group hopes to find common ground between respectful cruising and supporting the needs of the business community and adjacent neighborhoods.

“We don’t want to stop cruising. We want it to be safe, family-oriented and not harm or impact the businesses downtown,” said Lorraine Clarno, president of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, which is part of the coalition.

Open dialogue is a good first step.

Kalispell Police also play a key role in ensuring cruise nights are safe and civil through the use of visible patrols. Chief Jordan Venezio said the department already has up to four officers in the downtown area on Friday nights as a deterrent and to weed out troublemakers. Reckless driving must not be tolerated, and those who can’t resist should face swift and stiff penalties.

Thus far, the City Council has exercised legislative restraint in favor of allowing the freedom to cruise. That’s the right approach. 

Cruising — when done respectfully — is a multigenerational social tradition that brings energy and visibility to downtown, and creates a needed space for self-expression.

Yet, if the current level of patrolling isn’t enough to rein in the Fast and Furious wannabes, councilors must keep additional enforcement options on the table. Other cities dealing with cruise conflicts have enacted loop-count rules that limit the number of times a vehicle can pass the same point.

That would be a disappointing outcome for the majority of courteous cruisers simply looking for a fun night out and a venue to show off their artwork on wheels. It would also place additional demands on officers who already have full workloads.

The best bet is for cruisers to keep it cool on Friday nights. Call out misconduct when it happens. Don’t let the minority spoil it for the majority.