California looks to celebrate lowrider culture with a license plate

The California Assembly Transportation Committee voted on Monday to move forward with a bill that will clear the path for the state’s newest specialty license plate – one that celebrates lowrider culture.

Assembly Bill 2541, introduced by Assemblymember Mark González (D-Los Angeles), would create a specialty plate dedicated to lowriders. Revenue from the plate sales will be directed to the California Arts Council to fund lowrider arts and cultural preservation and community events.

"Lowriding is more than just a beautiful car cruising down the boulevard; it is a symbol, one of Chicano resistance, pride and celebration,” González told CALÓ News. “For decades, Chicanos resisted systemic oppression and racist slurs by building a community that honors craftsmanship, detailing and the right to take life a little bit slower. Today, as these modified-to-perfection classic cars cruise down the road, nostalgic oldies remind us just how intertwined Chicano heritage is to American history.”

AB 2541 was passed during the Transportation Committee’s April 6 hearing as part of the session’s five-item consent calendar. Consent calendar consists of bills that are deemed non-controversial and have no opposition. The calendar was passed with a quick and unanimous vote. The bill now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

“As California once again looks to uplift our lowrider community, especially under the federal government's reign of terror on our community, we must center ourselves and remind each other what lowriding is about,” the assemblymember said.

Lowriders have been a pillar of Latino and Chicano pride for decades and have even been celebrated within the community with dedicated events and parades. California’s Legislature has had a complicated history with the beloved cars, however, passing many anti-cruising bills. In 2023, the state passed AB 436, a bill that prohibits any bans on cruising.

“As AB 436 proved, it is not just about the cars; it is about cultural visibility, honoring heritage and creating community for those that society attempts to push down,” González said. “And just like a lowrider, this specialized license plate is more than a visual representation, as the funds generated will be reinvested into the community, such as nonprofits and programming for lowrider events.”

The Arts Council will be required to direct proceeds from the plate fees, including through issuance, renewal and transfer of the specialized plate, to fund projects that support lowrider culture. 

The Arts Council will work with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to design a plate to “reflect lowrider culture and heritage,” while maintaining plate readability and safety, according to the bill text.

The only organization in official support of the bill is the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), which refers to itself as the “leading association” in the specialty automotive aftermarket. The association often lobbies to “protect the industry and enthusiasts’ rights … to build, race, modify and enjoy their vehicles,” according to its website. 

Between 2022 and 2024, SEMA has contributed $8,500 to lawmakers currently on the Assembly Transportation Committee, according to the CalMatters Digital Democracy database.

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Davis) received $4,500 in contributions from SEMA from 2023 through 2024, according to data compiled on Digital Democracy. Aguiar-Curry has voted in alignment with SEWA’s policy interests 54% of the time from 2023 to 2026.

Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), the chair of the Transportation Committee, received a total of $4,000 in contributions from SEWA from 2022-2024. Wilson voted with SEMA 61% of the time from 2023 to present.

The database shows González, author of AB 2541, has no record of receiving contributions from SEMA.

“We know there is an incredibly large lowrider community out there, and this is just one way to signal to all Californians that lowriders are here to stay,” González said. “California once shut the door on lowriders, but with this bill, we take another step to reconcile with the past."