Kalispell City Council abandons legislation limiting downtown cruising

Kalispell City Council hit the brakes on a proposal to curb downtown cruising Monday, instead asking that motorists stay respectful and within the bounds of existing traffic laws.

Council weighed instituting an ordinance addressing cruising before a packed audience during the Oct. 28 work session. Complaints related to noise and heavy traffic as well as safety concerns in the city’s downtown spurred the discussion.  

Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio told Council that his department has received reports from pedestrians of near misses with cars performing burnouts, but no injuries. He said that most drivers who participate in cruising operate their vehicles safely, but there are some who drive recklessly. 

Sample ordinances used in other municipalities, all geared toward limiting the number of times a vehicle can pass a certain point, were brought before Council for consideration. The effort, though, met strident opposition.  

Councilors Sam Nunnally, Sid Daoud and Jed Fisher were adamantly opposed to legislation limiting cruising, arguing that ordinances would lead to a slippery slope dictating how taxpayers use public roads.  

Daoud called it “the worst legislation for municipal areas that I’ve ever seen in my life.” 

“I’m a cruiser, I’ll say it. My son’s a cruiser. I love it,” Nunally said.  

“Kalispell cruise is about as American as it gets,” said Fisher, who participated in Kruise Kalispell in the past with his 1961 Chevrolet Corvair. “They are not out to cause an accident or run over somebody.”   

Council President Chad Graham, who oversaw the meeting in Mayor Mark Johnson’s absence, said he did not want to pursue duplicative legislation. There are already ordinances in place to address loud noise and disruptive behavior, he said.  

“We have laws on the books. It's just a matter of getting them to where they are finding the right purpose at the right time,” he said. “I would like to see respect brought into it by those that aren’t respecting it.” 

City Manager Doug Russell and Venezio said the city’s noise ordinance is difficult to enforce especially when a specific car can’t be pegged for violating it. 

Councilor Ryan Hunter, who said he lives within earshot of the rumble of downtown, suggested a permitting process like how parades are registered with the city, but that idea was largely shot down.   

Councilor Kari Gabriel, who said she enjoyed cruising during high school, argued that the noise and reckless driving had gotten out of hand. But she said she blamed a few bad apples ruining the experience for everyone.  

Proponents of cruising in attendance told Council during public comment that unlawful activity could be linked to just a few participants. They said that increased law enforcement in the area has helped quell problems. 

Conversely, business owners appearing before Council described a loss of commerce and customers because of disruptive noise.    

While cruising cars became popular in the 1950s, the social activity enjoyed a renassiance across the country, including Kalispell, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The organization Kruise Kalispell formed in April 2020 as a means to escape isolation and flaunt whips safely. The Facebook group now has roughly 14,500 members.  

During public comment, Jodie Cross, who pushed for the club’s creation four years ago, said the last official Kruise Kalispell event was held in May and that meet-ups only occur around four times a year.  

“What you got going on is not a Kruise Kalispell issue,” Cross said.  

She said burnouts have gotten out of hand, but cruising’s positive impact on young people looking to socialize and show off their passion for cars in a safe manner should be protected.  

Russell described the recent activity as loosely organized and unplanned with no official leader. 

Gavin Mailman, 19, from Lakeside, said he travels to downtown Kalispell to cruise.  

“I see both sides of it, I see the impact that it has on businesses and the people that do live here but at the same time, from a younger person’s perspective, it’s not easy being a kid,” Mailman said. “There’s a lot fewer things that we get to enjoy and do and there are a lot of bad influences in the world.” 

Jandy Cox, owner of Rocky Mountain Outfitters on Main Street, said cruising has hurt his business. 

“Since 2020 the decibel level on Main Street has gone from pretty nonexistent to absolutely out of control,” he said. “Noise, dangerous behavior, unlawful behavior, reckless driving, burnouts, everybody in this room that's been down on a Friday night has seen those behaviors.” 

Kalispell Grand Hotel General Manager Bridget Calobeer said the noise from motorists cruising Main Street has disturbed guests. 

“Over this year our guests have put more negative reviews because of the noise and the disturbances that is not just on a Friday but every single day,” she said. “It’s all day long, all night long.”   

Councilors ultimately asked that those cruising be respectful regarding noise, follow traffic laws and refrain from burnouts, reckless driving and illegally modifying cars to make more noise. They also asked that drivers turn in on the early side. 

As attendees left City Hall, the rumble of supped up engines could be heard chugging downtown.  

Reporter Jack Underhilll can be reached at junderhill@dailyinterlake.com and 758-4407.