City cracks down on Amtrak mooning

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif., July 10 (UPI) -- The city of Laguna Niguel, Calif., says it is "saying 'NO' to crack" by discouraging participation in an event known as "Moon Over Amtrak."

The Saturday event, which local legend says began in 1979 when a patron at the Mugs Away Saloon offered to buy a drink for anyone who would moon a train from the Camino Capistrano road, brought between 8,000 to 10,000 people to the city's streets last year to drink alcohol and expose their rear ends to Amtrak trains, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

The city described its Amtrak mooning stance on its official Twitter feed by saying authorities are "saying 'NO' to crack."

To help discourage people from participating in the tradition, the City Council passed resolutions in March banning on-street parking in the area near the railroad tracks between Thursday and Sunday this week as well as public drinking and public urination. The city already has an ordinance banning public nudity.

The City Council said in a statement that deputies "will be out in force, enforcing all laws and ordinances" during the weekend.

However, some die-hard mooners said they are still expecting a large crowd Saturday.

"This year, my first moon is going to be that way," said Rick Sanchez, a 15-year "Moon Over Amtrak" veteran, while gesturing toward City Hall.