Amtrak mooning: bottoms up, attendance down

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. As is the tradition, mooners gathered outside the /* Mugs Away Saloon*/ in Laguna Niguel to flash passing /*Amtrak*/ trains.

The ritual started in 1979 after a bar room bet and usually thousands of people show up.

But this year, attendance was noticeably down.

Mooners say it is because of an increased police presence.

In 2008, 8,000 people showed up, but deputies shut down the event for traffic jams, public nudity and drinking.

In 2009, there were just 400 people.