Antioch Approves Long Awaited Sideshow Ordinance

In a 3-0 vote, the Antioch City Council approved its long-awaited sideshow ordinance after nearly two-years of discussions.

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,

Councilmember Lori Ogorchock called it another tool in the tool belt for the Antioch Police Department but said she wanted some other items followed up on.

“I understand we want to get this moving, which I agree, but the impounding of the vehicles, increase in fines and fines for our resources I’d like for those to come back to see if they could be added at a later date,” said Ogorchock.

Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker grilled Antioch Police Chief Chief Brian Addington with a series of questions, including how many (year to date) sideshows have occurred in the city of Antioch with 50 to 100 spectators.

Addington did not have exact statistics but said more than 15 events—participants and spectators.

Torres-Walker asked how many of these events have they needed to request mutual aid. Addington said half of those, along with the smaller ones as some of the larger shows break up into smaller shows. He added some agencies have been able to assist and some times they were not.

Torres-Walker asked how large the traffic division was. Addington replied, 1 sergeant and 1 officer.

“When you need to respond to a large side show, how do you make up the different” asked Torres-Walker.

Addington responded by explaining most traffic officers work during the day and sideshows occur in the late evening and on weekends—vast majority are handled by beat officers and they have to pull all resources to go and deal with the sideshows. They also call in additional resources when available.

Torres-Walker asked the chief if he had talked with the District Attorney’s office about the ordinance.

Addington shared, “we talked about training, we talked about different sections that are applicable and the use of the ordinance” while adding the District Attorney knows how to review these cases.

“Do you believe that there is any potential in any policy to have disparate impact on certain communities,” asked Torres-Walker.

Addington responded, “I think our officers are going to do the best they can to enforce the law based on the information that they see at the time.”

Torres-Walker asked the city attorney where the $1k fines would go which the attorney said it would not come back to Antioch because it falls under a penal code.

“I know the fines won’t come to the city, I just wanted you to say it so people in the public will know these won’t come back to the city in any type of way for any monetary value for any other use or purpose and won’t be going to the police department,” stated Torres-Walker. “There is no physical benefit that the city would be receiving by passing this ordinance.”

She added.

“The devil is really in implementation and enforcement and we really wont know if it works or doesn’t until its enacted and we trust current officers who are committed to quality policing in enforcing this ordinance and seeing where it goes,” stated Torres-Walker.

Councilmember Mike Barbanica then motioned for the ordinance to move forward. Seconded by Ogorchock.

The Ordinance passed in a 3-0-1 vote with Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe, Barbanica and Ogorchock in support. Torres-Walker abstained from the vote. Councilmember Monica Wilson was 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

• 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.

Watch the Meeting – click here

Previous

• June 28 – Barbanica: Hold Your Elected Officials Accountable on Sideshows
• June 25 – Antioch City Council Approves Sideshow Ordinance
• 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