Amtrak mooning draws crowd of 1,000

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif., July 13 (UPI) -- Officials in Laguna Niguel, Calif., said increased law enforcement did not stop about 1,000 people from participating in the city's annual Mooning of Amtrak.

Police Chief Lt. Andy Ferguson said Saturday's event was far calmer than last year, when police witnessed public intoxication, urination and defecation among the crowd of 8,000 to 10,000 people showing their rear ends to passing trains, the Orange County (Calif.) Register reported Monday.

Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department, said three vehicles were towed during the Amtrak mooning but no arrests were made. City officials had earlier announced that enforcement of laws including those banning public drunkenness and parking ordinances would be stepped up during this year's event.

"The crowds have been very mellow. I didn't see any major violations -- public drunkenness or anything," Amormino said. "It's nothing like last year."

Mayor Robert Ming hailed the increased law enforcement during the event as a success.

"Locals who wanted to do their thing, did their thing, and the people from out of town didn't come. This is exactly what we were hoping for," Ming said.