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Band Arrested for Blocking Freeway to Perform

By Laura Strachan, Esq. on October 13, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

A traffic jam in Los Angeles is nothing new. A traffic jam in Los Angeles because a rock band decided to play an impromptu concert atop a truck ... now that's giving a new meaning to a jam. The Los Angeles section of the 101 freeway was blocked up for over a mile early Tuesday morning as a result of the three-man band's illegal antics. It took police over an hour to reach the site of the concert.

The LA Times reports on the once little known band arrested for blocking the freeway: "In what is believed to be an effort at promotion, authorities said that members of a band called Imperial Stars blocked all but one lane of the southbound 101 with a large truck advertising the band." The band was, of course, singing their song "Traffic Jam 101." Complicating authorities' attempt to close the curtains on the performance -- the driver of the truck fled the scene shortly after parking the truck over four of the five lanes, and took the keys with him.

The Times adds that the band pledges to donate all the money earned from the "Traffic Jam 101" song to Homeless Children America. I wonder if the donation will come before or after they pay all their legal fees associated with brining their song to life. The band was arrested for blocking the freeway. The Times quotes Los Angeles Sheriff Spokesman Steve Whitmore, "This was really bizarre. A rock band blocking one of the busiest freeways in L.A. to play an impromptu concert .... I thought I'd seen everything in L.A."

Since this is not the type of arrest the police (or anyone for that matter) see everyday, what are the charges in this case? The Imperial Stars band members could be charged with a range of disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace laws. Both categories of law are fairly broad, which is good since it is highly doubtful that the city of Los Angeles has a specific law against giving a concert on top of a truck during rush hour. But then again, it is L.A.

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