Antioch City Council Approves Sideshow Ordinance

On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council voted 4-0 to approved its sideshow ordinance. Within the ordinance, it prohibits organizing, advertising, and being a spectator at a street racing, sideshows, and reckless driving exhibitions.

Any person who violates the ordinance could be subject to a $1,000 fine or 6-months in jail, or both,

The council was provided with two versions of an ordinance: one that targeted everyone involved, or another version that simply went after organizers–the council opted to go with the option that went after organizers, advertisers and active spectators. Participants are already addressed in state law.

Prior to the council discussion, several speakers spoke out about any ordinance that included spectators stating they could get cited for just being in a vehicle. They urged for a better definition defining what a “spectator” was.

Antioch City Councilmember Mike Barbanica clarified who would be classified as a spectator.

“We are talking about active participants, we are not talking about someone just sitting in their car,” stated Barbanica who noted there were 3 active police officers and 2 retired in the room saying he guaranteed out of the 5 of them they could determine who the active participants are versus someone trapped in their vehicle. “There is also a difference of someone videoing and here is my phone versus someone fleeing. There is a big difference.”

Barbanica said sideshows were destroying parts of the city, blocking firefighters from responding to calls, and detrimental to the community. He added some sideshows have firearms and caused shootings.

“Just going after an organizer is not enough. You have to have the people who are actively participating, not I am trapped in my car, but active participants,” stated Barbanica.

Councilmember Lori Ogorchock called the sideshows more frequent and asked for several items be included such as increased fines for higher penalties, impound vehicles until court dates, reimbursement for city resources while stating it was a quality of life issue.

Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson stated she would use the term “spectator participants” are filming and live-streaming to let others know where they are at, sometimes shooting off fireworks.

“We need to hold those participants accountable, along with organizers and advertisers,” said Wilson. “I think at a future council meeting, we need to start talking about why this keeps happening. What is the root cause?”

Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe said the ordinance will not stop sideshows, but rather tools the City of Antioch can use and the city will come after you.

“I am for all of them, spectators, organizers and those who advertise. Until we rebuild the traffic team, we are going to be dealing with these people who organize these things,” said Hernandez-Thorpe and it could go effect in the end of the summer.

He urged the council to not “fool around” and pass this tonight and make changes in the fall or winter as needed. He said they needed to pass this so law enforcement have another tool.

The council the voted on the ordinance which was passed in a 4-0 vote with Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker absent.

The ordinance contain proactive measures to discourage illegal sideshows, street races, and exhibitions of speed within the City, by regulating the organizing or advertising of such activities. The following activities would be specifically prohibited by both ordinances:

• Knowingly organizing a street race, sideshow, reckless driving exhibition, or exhibition of speed conducted within the City on a public street, highway, or in an offstreet parking facility.
• Advertising, within the City, a street race, sideshow, or exhibition of speed conducted or to be conducted in the City on a public street, highway, or in an offstreet parking facility.
• Advertising online, including on social media, a street race, sideshow, or exhibition of speed conducted or to be conducted in the City on a public street, highway, or in an offstreet parking facility.
• The ordinance’s definition of a spectator would apply to those who are found within 200 feet of the location of a sideshow, street race, or the site of the preparations for these activities, for the purpose of viewing, observing, watching, or witnessing the event as it progresses.

Enforcement

5. Any person who violates this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a maximum of six (6) months in jail, a fine of $1,000, or both, unless at the discretion of the district attorney or a court of competent jurisdiction, the violation is reduced to an infraction. The City may seek compliance with this chapter by any remedy allowed under this Code and any other remedy allowed by law, including but not limited to the administrative citation procedures set forth in Antioch Municipal Code § 1-5. The amount of the administrative fine is $1,000 for each violation.

Previous Stories:

• June 11 – Editorial: East County Must Take Regional Approach With Sideshow Ordinance
• June 2 – Antioch Police Impound 6 Vehicles, Make Multiple Arrests During Sideshows
• March 14, 2024 – Antioch Rejects “Absolutely Useless” Sideshow Ordinance
• Nov 16 – Antioch Opts to Place Ordinance Focus on Sideshow Organizers
• Oct 26 – Antioch Agrees to Create Ordinance Directed at Sideshow Spectators
• Sept 25 – Antioch Police Say 1 Arrested After Weekend Sideshow Activity
• Aug 15 – License Plate Readers Coming to Downtown Antioch
• Aug 9 – Antioch Mayor Claims Sideshows and Crime is Down
• Aug 9 – Antioch Man Charged with Reckless Driving and Felony Hit and Run
• Aug 6 – Antioch Sideshow Damages Water Main, Vehicle Also Enters Delta Waters
• July 5 – Updated: Hundreds Gather for Fourth of July Sideshow in Antioch
• Jan 12 – Antioch Police Tow 2 Vehicles, 1 Citation in Latest Sideshow Response
• May 16, 2022 – Antioch Mayor Says Council Will Take Up Policy to Target Sideshow Spectators
• May 15, 2022 – Antioch Police Respond to Two Sideshows, Officers Vehicles Attacked