The race, organized by Wolfpack Hustle, has been held each year since 2009 and has grown over time, with 5,000 participants showing up last year, according to Streetsblog.

But a simple cease-and-desist letter from the Bureau of Street Services sent to race organizer Don “Roadblock” Ward on Tuesday changed all of that. The letter claims that if riders decided to hold the race without the proper permits, they would be facing up to a year in county jail, plus fines. Ward tried putting in an expedited request for a permit, but was flatly denied.