SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Governor Gavin Newsom signed four bills cracking down on illegal sideshows and street takeovers into law late Monday.
Illegal sideshows are events where people gather in vacant lots or intersections to watch drivers perform different stunts or races. Sideshows can disrupt traffic, create dangerous situations for pedestrians and escalate into violence.
“We have seen too many people killed or hurt at these events. Today, we are sending a clear message to anyone considering participating in or attending a sideshow: stricter penalties are in place, including the potential loss of your vehicle,” said Newsom in a statement.
The four laws will raise penalties for people who participate in sideshows. One new law will allow law enforcement to impound vehicles connected to sideshow activity.
The new laws also standardize sideshows to illegal driving activities on highways or parking lots.
Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua authored one of the bills signed, AB 2807, but he's disappointed in the legislative process as his bill was heavily amended.
His original bill would've increased the fine amount for sideshow participants. The amended version only clarifies a sideshow is also known as a street takeover.
“The sad part is a lot of these bills are just not really going to do much,” Villapudua said.
Villapudua blames his colleagues in the Public Safety Committee for not wanting to increase penalties as to why the signed bills aren't as effective as they should be.
“We wanted more, we wanted folks to be accountable, we wanted fines, we wanted people to understand that we take this very seriously,” Villapudua said.
Though AB 2807 isn’t as strong as he hoped, Villapudua is happy the conversation about cracking down on sideshows has started in the legislature.
Two people were shot and killed at different sideshows in Sacramento over the weekend. Neighbors said one of the sideshows grew to about 300 to 500 people.
Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Karina Talamantes called the recent shootings at sideshows in Sacramento “extremely frustrating” and praised Newsom’s action on signing the four bills.
“Now that we have more tools in our tool bucket, it’s time for us to implement and do more enforcement on these sideshows - because it’s completely unacceptable,” Talamantes said.
Four new laws
- AB 1978 by Assemblymember Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita) – Vehicles: speed contests
- AB 2186 by Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Palm Springs) – Vehicles: impoundment
- AB 2807 by Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton) – Vehicles: sideshows and street takeovers
- AB 3085 by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) – Vehicles: removal and impoundment
